14.1  |  Military equipment (post-conflict)

1064.  Gen Granville‑Chapman produced those plans on 7 July.558 His covering minute

stated:

“a. Nothing is to get in the way of achieving the timetables shown, whatever the

hours – we are at war in two theatres and lives depend on the capabilities being

delivered on time. If seemingly insuperable issues arise I am to be informed

immediately.

b. Planning aficionados will spot that we are departing from the programme in

some areas – intentionally. Less than perfect solutions are sometimes required

to attend to immediate needs, albeit at the expense of other projects.

c. In the slightly longer term context of EP07 we shall need to make adjustments

to reflect the current scene, notably in the RW (DAS for far more of the fleet)

and ISTAR realms – DCDS(EC) [Lt Gen Fulton] will handle this and will issue

guidance by the end of this month.”

1065.  The plan to address helicopter shortfalls included releasing assets by

“rationalising aviation support” to counter‑terrorism operations in the UK and releasing

helicopters from other theatres, both of which were planned to be complete by the end

of July 2006. Equipping all battlefield helicopters to “theatre‑entry standard” was listed

as a 2007 Equipment Programme measure.

1066.  The plan to address ISTAR shortfalls included:

• fully replacing Nimrod MR2 with Merlin Mk1 in Oman by the end of September;

• delivering Predator B to Afghanistan by 1 May 2007 (noting the potential loss

of other projects within the Equipment Programme);

• assessing the requirement for a short‑range tactical UAV by the end of July and

exploring options to meet any confirmed requirement by 15 September 2006;

• reviewing the output of CJPTF by 31 July;

• deploying Oakbank559 to Iraq by 15 August;

• expediting delivery of 26 ground terminals to receive coalition FMV feed, 18 of

which were to go to Iraq, between July 2006 and March 2007 depending on the

time needed to obtain an export licence; and

• capturing the national requirements via an ISTAR Task Team by 31 August.

It would cover Iraq and Afghanistan but also take account of other commitments

– an 80 percent solution would suffice.

558  Minute Granville‑Chapman to CDL, 7 July 2006, ‘Rotary wing and ISTAR Shortfalls’ attaching Paper

VCDS, 7 July 2006, ‘Action Plan to Address Rotary Wing Operational Shortfalls’ and Paper VCDS,

7 July 2006, ‘Action Plan to Address ISTAR Operational Shortfalls’.

559  Oakbank is a CCTV camera system for static locations.

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