The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
14.
To identify a
new requirement the instruction stated:
“Once
operations have commenced any subsequent shortfalls will usually
be
identified
by in‑theatre forces. Regardless of the phase of the operation,
any
capability
shortfall is articulated through a Statement of Requirement
(SOR).”
15.
The
instruction also stated:
“The SOR is
reviewed by PJHQ/FLC/Jt Cmnd [Joint Command] Staffs who will
then
either
close the gap through re‑brigading of current assets or by raising
an USUR
[Urgent
Statement of User Requirement]. The USUR is then staffed by PJHQ
…
If
endorsed, the USUR is passed to the … Directorate of Equipment
Capability
(DEC) …”
Equipment
Capability Customer (ECC) was created by
the 1998 Strategic
Defence
Review
to bring
together the teams specifying future military needs – known as
the
Directorates
of Equipment Capability (DECs).6
The ECC was
headed by the Deputy Chief
of Defence
Staff (Equipment Capability) who reported to the Chief of Defence
Staff (CDS)
through the
Vice Chief of Defence Staff.
The ECC was
responsible for providing funded capability requirements to meet
the current
and future
needs of the Armed Forces and ensure the equipment was delivered
into
service.
The ECC was designated as “Customer One” in the
process.
As well as
the DECs, the ECC comprised:
•
Directorate of
Capabilities, Resources and Scrutiny (DCRS) providing
internal
scrutiny of
programmes; and
•
Joint
Capabilities Board (JCB) to make
balance of investment decisions across the
Equipment
Programme.
Front Line
Commands (FLCs) were
designated as the “User” of equipment and referred
to as
“Customer Two” in the process.
PJHQ
assessed and
reviewed requirements; SORs and USURs.
Directorates
of Equipment Capability (DECs) were
responsible for establishing a
Capability
Working Group to consider each USUR and, if required, for producing
a
business
case seeking approval with advice from the Defence Procurement
Agency (DPA)
on the
options and procurement strategy for meeting the
requirement.
In 2003,
equipment was provided and supported by two separate MOD
organisations:
•
Defence
Procurement Agency (DPA) which procured
the equipment for the Armed
Forces;
and
•
Defence
Logistics Organisation (DLO) which was
responsible for providing and
directing
logistics support for in‑service equipment.
6
Report
Gray, October 2009, ‘Review of Acquisition for the Secretary of
State for Defence’.
6