In the response – elements of which are highlighted in due course – A|D|S makes clear that the UK defence industry is a crucial partner for the Government if it is to achieve its aims around support to the Armed Forces and the Force 2020 vision on economic growth and on exports.
Furthermore, the considered response notes that, without sufficient investment in the UK sector, the industry will be unable to develop new battle-winning products onshore specific to our own Armed Forces as well as products for export.
A|D|S sees great potential for development of the fragmented UK security market, and supports proposals for Government and industry to work together more effectively in bolstering national security and, at the same time, promoting economic growth.
The UK defence industry supports over 300,000 jobs and generates an estimated GB pound 35 billion per year to the economy. It represents 10% of UK manufacturing and exported GB pound 7.2 billion of products in 2009.
The wider security sector supports around 600,000 jobs and is poised for strong global growth thanks to the innovative, world-leading and proven equipment and capabilities that it develops.
Crucial partner for the UK Government
Rees Ward, the chief executive of A|D|S, said: “The UK industry is a crucial partner for the UK Government to achieve its military and economic aims, and the Green Paper offers an excellent opportunity to suggest ideas to the Government about reforms and improvements to deliver additional benefits for our troops and security authorities.”
Ward went on to state: “This will also benefit the taxpayer through providing increased value for money and enhanced public protection. We welcome the open attitude in which this consultation has been carried out, and look forward to further discussions with the Government on how industry can help in the future.”
Ward suggested that, in the industry’s view, the White Paper that will follow this latest Green Paper should describe how the UK’s national security policy can both underpin the nation’s defence and bring broader value to our economy (including details of how Government policy can contribute to advanced manufacturing and engineering, to the skills base and to British exports.
“The experience of the defence and security sectors as well as their excellence in products and services is recognised both at home and by other nations,” urged Ward.
“The UK is number one in Europe and second only to the US worldwide in the defence exports market with a 21% market share. Furthermore, the innovative and proven UK security sector is primed for global growth providing the correct climate is delivered by the Government.”
The UK industry is also a world leader in providing engineering and training support services through innovative contracts and partnerships that demonstrably reduce MoD costs, and have great potential as an export model in their own right alongside equipment sales.
“Industry believes that the Government would gain through assessing the economic benefits of the UK defence and security supply chain,” explained Ward, “as well as the unique strategic value of the industry to the nation and to UK national security.”
Key points in the A|D|S response
The A|D|S response to the Green Paper contains the following key points:
- The White Paper should reinforce the Government’s welcome focus on exports and ensure that this results in a coherent approach embracing research and technology, equipment planning, procurement, export promotion, licensing and finance
- It should also consider the stark dilemma that if available funds are increasingly used to import commercial off-the-shelf equipment, and research and technology in the UK is reduced, UK intellectual property will diminish and so, in time, will exports and the UK supply chain
- The Government needs to be realistic about the security of supply implications of reliance on other nations for defence and security science and technology. State-of-the-art technology may increasingly be generated in countries which will not want to share it with the UK, or not on acceptable terms. On that basis, the UK should retain core capabilities in key areas of science and technology, civil and military, and should be prepared to invest to develop new technologies to meet future threats
- There are no shortcuts to obtaining a world class technological and industrial base for defence and security. Once lost, capabilities are rarely recoverable: risks taken with this base will almost certainly translate into military and security risk before too long
- A|D|S considers the successful implementation of acquisition reform in the Ministry of Defence to be critical to the future relationship between the Department and industry
For copies of the Green Paper and the A|D|S response to the consultation access the dedicated web links on the right hand panel of this page
A|D|S is also on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ADSgroupUK
A|D|S is the trade organisation advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries with Farnborough International Limited as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
A|D|S also encompasses the British Aviation Group (BAG). It was formed from the merger of the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers (APPSS), the Defence Manufacturers Association (DMA) and the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) in October 2009.
For more information visit the website (again, a dedicated link has been provided)
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