14.1 |
Military equipment (post-conflict)
621.
Mr Browne
concluded:
“The
up‑armoured FV430, the Cougar medium PPV, and Vector fill the
requirements
for varying
degrees of protection, mobility and profile … But I am confident
that
together
these vehicles provide commanders with the right range of options
to deal
with the
situations and threats they face.”
622.
The MOD IAB
approved the Cougar business case on 25 July.322
It
warned:
“There is
clear risk of cost and time growth given the focus on satisfying
the
survivability
requirement and the speed with which the case has been put
together
… Due to
the exceptional way in which this programme has been funded, it
is
important
that it is understood that there is no scope for cost growth. The
Treasury
have
indicated that they will pay no more than the stated cost of the
vehicles …
Contrary to
… the Business case it is not correct to assume that additional
funding
will be
available from the Department. Any cost growth must be contained
within
the approved
cost, if necessary by reducing numbers.”
623.
The IAB asked
for a further note to be submitted following the examination
of
Bushmaster
vehicles “as soon as possible, and by Sep 06”. It should report the
results
and, if
necessary, seek the appropriate approval.
624.
On 5 August,
the DIS produced a report on the EFP threat in
MND(SE).323
It
stated:
“Since May
2005 the use of Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFPs) has
become
increasingly
common in MND(SE); 83 incidents have been reported with the
monthly
number
peaking at 12 in April 2006 …
“MND(SE)
has a disproportionate number of EFP attacks in comparison to the
rest
of Iraq …
and they have accounted for […] IED related fatality in the region
since the
end of May
2005.”
“The supply
of EFPs in Iraq has recently increased with a four to five fold
increase
in the
number of EFPs in circulation for Apr to Jun 06 compared with the
previous
three
months … Recent incidents in MND(SE) have involved increasingly
more
EFPs and
are becoming more complex, involving additional munitions and
targeting
entire
convoys. It is likely that we will continue to see a widening of
the charges and
munitions
used …”
322
Minute IAB
Secretariat 1d to DEC(GM) and SUV IPTL, 25 July 2006, ‘Medium
Protected Patrol Vehicle
(Med PPV)
UOR Business Case: Approval (IAB Sec 1864)’.
323
Report DIS,
5 August 2006, ‘EFPs in MND‑SE Update’.
105