Obsolescent and outgunned: the British Army’s armoured vehicle capability

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Contents

Summary

1 Context of the inquiry

Introduction

Our Inquiry

2 The development of UK armoured vehicle capability since the Cold War

The impact of evolving defence strategy

Shifting requirements and the impact of counter-insurgency operations

Lessons from recent experience

3 The UK’s armoured forces today

Main Battle Tanks

Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicles

Armoured reconnaissance vehicles

Armoured personnel carriers

Overmatching the threat

Addressing other capability gaps

4 The future of UK armoured capability

The Integrated Review and the Integrated Operating Concept

The case for retaining heavy armour

Equipping future UK forces

Towards a land industrial strategy

5 Conclusion

Annex: UK armoured vehicle capabilities and programmes since the Cold War

The impact of evolving defence strategy

Shifting requirements and the impact of counter-insurgency operations

Lessons from recent experience

Conclusions and recommendations

Formal minutes

Witnesses

Published written evidence

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament