14.1 |
Military equipment (post-conflict)
55.
The full list
of UORs, including 48 measures deemed to be “below the line”,
was
awaiting
confirmation of the CONOPS, which would be submitted to the Chiefs
of Staff
the
following week.
56.
AM Stirrup
provided an update to the Chiefs of Staff on 28
March.25
He asked
the
Chiefs to
note that 65 potential UORs had been identified, of which 33 were
“likely to
be needed
in any aftermath scenario”, the other 32 were on hold until the
“way ahead”
became
clearer.
57.
The potential
UORs identified included requirements for force
protection
(such as
Defensive Aids Suite for air transport and support helicopters),
infrastructure
enhancements,
and ISTAR enhancements to aid drawdown.
58.
Phase IV UORs
were “being co‑ordinated with the developing policy on
recuperation”.
“Despite
the understandable lack of clarity over CONOPS for Phase IV, we
are
making
every effort to get ahead of the game.”
60.
The MOD’s
preliminary discussions with the Treasury about Phase IV
funding
indicated
that officials would “agree to some further access to the Reserve”.
It was
unclear
whether that would be sufficient to cover the 65 measures already
identified
or whether
the criteria for access to the Reserve would encompass the full
range of
measures to
be sought.
61.
The MOD
intended to make “a formal approach to the Treasury within the
next
week”.
Depending on the outcome, AM Stirrup wrote: “ … we may have to
prioritise
Phase IV
UORs further and/or to make adjustments to in‑year priorities to
accommodate
remaining
measures within the Defence budget.”
“Unlike
previous UOR tranches, we have no firm time by which Phase IV
measures
have to be
effective if they are to qualify for consideration. We are, though,
using
a yardstick
of six months as a guideline. Where measures have a longer lead
time
(for
example Defensive Aids Suite on large aircraft), we will need to
address them
within the
normal EP process.”
25
Minute
DCDS(EC) to COSSEC, 28 March 2003, ‘Iraq Contingency Planning –
Urgent Operational
Requirements
for Phase 4’.
13