Conclusions and recommendations
Our inquiry
1. Our
visit to Middle Wallop and Yeovilton proved invaluable and we
record our thanks to all those involved. Our discussions that
day have informed our oral evidence sessions, and indeed, this
Report. (Paragraph 2)
Why helicopters?
2. Helicopters
provide many vital capabilities to the modern Armed Forces and,
with the challenge of hybrid warfare, are becoming increasingly
relevant to current and contingent operations. Their status as
force-multipliers lends further weight to their value. They are
a cost-effective means of increasing the operational impact of
other force elements and therefore, of operational capability
generally. As such, it is essential that the fleet should be 'fit
for purpose', both in terms of quality and quantity. (Paragraph
5)
Helicopters in the UK Armed Forces
3. Significant
improvements have been made to the availability of key assets
such as Chinook. However, in the longer term, increased availability
will be no substitute for additional capacity. Adequate capability
is also a question of numbers of airframes. (Paragraph 11)
What is more?
4. We
do not believe that the question of helicopter capability can
be properly answered without reference to the size of the fleet.
We are concerned that operational commanders in the field today
are unable to undertake potentially valuable operations because
of the lack of helicopters for transportation around the theatre
of operations. We are also concerned that operational commanders
find they have to use ground transport, when helicopter lift would
be preferred, both for the outcome and for the protection of our
forces. Furthermore, we are troubled by the forecast reduction
in numbers of medium and heavy lift battlefield helicopters, which
will make this worse. We have an additional concern in respect
of the apparent lack of training that is taking place for amphibious
operations. (Paragraph 21)
Aircraft
5. While
we are grateful to the Minister for raising with us his uncertainties
about the decision to extend the life of Puma, we do not feel
that we were given the full picture on this issue by other witnesses.
We very much regret this. (Paragraph 28)
6. Given the age of
both Sea King and Puma and the poor survivability of the Puma,
extending their lives at considerable cost is not the best option,
either operationally or in terms of the use of public money. We
do not believe that these LEPs will provide adequate capability
or value for the taxpayer. Only a procurement of new helicopters
can meet the original objective of reducing the number of types
of helicopter in service within the UK Armed Forces. (Paragraph
30)
Support
7. We
welcome the Minister's assurance that he is committed to minimising
the difference between the equipment standards on an Apache in
the UK and an Apache in Helmand. The MoD should commit to making
training aircraft as close to the theatre-entry standard as is
affordable, and we realise that this might be achieved by fitting
improved systems on training aircraft in the United Kingdom or
by teaching key pilotage techniques on unmodified aircraft. (Paragraph
35)
8. We were concerned
to hear from industry that the Defence Industrial Strategy, so
far as it relates to helicopters, needs to be 'picked up and moved
forward again'. The loss of momentum in relation to the Defence
Industrial Strategy may lead to significant acquisitions in this
sector taking place without sufficient reference to the DIS. This
would be regrettable if it prevented greater rationalisation of
helicopter types for the reasons we set out above. We urge the
MoD to avoid this if at all possible. (Paragraph 38)
9. On support, closer
working between the military and industry through IOS and TLCM
programmes is clearly the way forward. We were impressed by the
reports we had from companies of CONDO operations, particularly
with regard to their consequences for process improvement and
cost effectiveness through early interventions. We encourage the
MoD to capitalise upon lessons learned from the success of the
Chinook Through Life Capability Service programme. (Paragraph
41)
10. The urgent action
being taken within the MoD to improve the acquisition and delivery
of spares to all helicopters in theatre needs to be given top
priority. (Paragraph 43)
People
11. Operations
in Afghanistan have now been made the highest priority, what is
known as a 'campaign footing', but this has stretched the manning
of the helicopter fleet. It is therefore unfeasible to surge helicopters
into theatre. Joint Helicopter Command is to be commended for
its efforts in delivering trained manpower to the front line,
and then giving personnel sufficient time to do all the things
at home that enable them to go back for repeat tours. However,
we believe it essential that the parent Services examine the basic
manning levels to enable personnel from all three Services to
be deployed and rested on an equitable basis. (Paragraph 46)
Training
12. Increased
joint working between the three Services has shown benefits in
the same way that increasingly close working between the military
and industry has done. We recommend that the MoD presses ahead
with its programmes to consolidate and make more common the various
schemes in place for training helicopter air and ground crew.
The MoD should take steps to eliminate the time lag between delivery
of UORs in theatre and the upgrading of equipment at home. In
this respect, it is unacceptable for personnel to encounter new
equipment for the first time in theatre. (Paragraph 49)
Towards a Strategic Defence Review
13. We
welcome the Government's announcement of a strategic review of
defence, the need for which has long been apparent. The case for
better resourcing of helicopters has however, already been made
clear. The MoD should not use the announcement of the strategic
review to delay the important decision which needs to be taken
in relation to the acquisition of the Future Medium Helicopter,
albeit on a modified off-the-shelf basis. The time has come to
appreciate fully the role of helicopters in modern operations.
We expect the Government to stop equivocating over the separate
concepts of 'capability', 'capacity', and 'availability'. The
MoD should seize the opportunity to recognise the importance of
helicopters to current and contingent operations, and work towards
strengthening all aspects of capability: the number of helicopters
in the fleet, the support structure that underpins their operations,
manning, both in the air and on the ground, and finally, the training
for the full spectrum of capabilities described by the review
itself. (Paragraph 51)
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