The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
1031.
FMV coverage
therefore remained “the most significant ISR gap in
MND(SE)”.
In “general
terms”, the UK was “50 percent” short of the requirement across
both theatres.
1032.
Addressing
Gen Granville‑Chapman’s specific questions on attack
helicopters
and Merlin
Mk1, Lt Gen Houghton stated that attack helicopters would
have “some
utility as
an ISTAR platform” but could not distribute imagery to other users.
The Merlin
Mk1 would
be a capable platform, with some modifications, but “these debates”
needed
closure in
the context of “a comprehensive analysis of our aviation capability
gaps”.
1033.
In the short
term, Lt Gen Houghton would pursue an extension of Nimrod
MR2
support for
Afghanistan and support the procurement or loan of terminals from
the US
to receive
FMV feeds in theatre. His staff would continue to “press for
greater access to
Predator
coverage” and he believed “we should look again at bridging the gap
between
Phoenix OSD
and Watchkeeper ISD, potentially with an extension of the
former”.
1034.
Lt Gen Houghton
stated that the identification of ISTAR requirements
and
critical
shortfalls for the medium term had proved “more problematic”. It
was clear
that the UK
was “only beginning to develop a full understanding of the national
ISTAR
requirements
for transition in both theatres” and the ways in which they could
be met.
Lt Gen Houghton
wrote:
“I am led
to the judgement that the complexity of a Coalition and national
ISTAR
architecture
requires a dedicated MOD led ISTAR review to fully examine
emerging
requirements
… Such a review should draw together a pan‑agency solution
to
address our
current shortfalls and define our long term goal for the provision
of
a coherent
Defence‑wide ISTAR capability.”
On 6 May, a
Lynx helicopter crashed in Basra, killing all five
personnel542
on
board.543
At the
Chiefs of Staff meeting on 10 May, it was noted that “the FCO had
suspended
flights by
its personnel whilst the cause of the helicopter crash was
investigated but
military
flights continued subject to the revision of tactics, techniques
and procedures”.544
The Board
of Inquiry into the crash concluded that the helicopter had been
shot down by
a
surface‑to‑air missile (using a Man Portable Air Defence System –
MANPAD), fired from
542
Wing
Commander John Coxen, Lieutenant Commander Darren Chapman, Captain
David Dobson,
Flight
Lieutenant Sarah‑Jayne Mulvihill and Marine Paul
Collins.
543
GOV.UK,
6 May
2006, Five
personnel in Basra helicopter crash named.
544
Minutes, 10
May 2006, Chiefs of Staff meeting.
545
House of
Commons, Official
Report, 27 April
2007, column 29WS.
174