14.1 |
Military equipment (post-conflict)
1192.
On 29 March
2007, Mr Browne wrote to Mr Timms to outline UOR
funding
requirements
for financial year 2007/08.626
That
included:
•
an
additional £15m plus for ECM (see earlier in this
Section);
•
£50m for a
C‑RAM system; and
•
£87m plus
for intelligence and surveillance capabilities for both Iraq
and
Afghanistan,
including ISTAR enhancements.
1193.
That request
was sent amidst the discussions between the Treasury and
the
MOD on the
sustainability of the UOR process, which is addressed earlier in
this Section
in the
context of protected mobility, and in detail in Section
13.1.
1194.
On 24 April,
Lt Gen Houghton briefed the Chiefs of Staff that the
security
situation in
MND(SE) had been “dominated” by an IDF attack against Basra
Palace.627
Work
continued on IDF protection and Phalanx was scheduled to be in
place at the COB
by
31 May.
1195.
In discussion,
the Chiefs noted:
“The
critical need for measures to mitigate the IDF threat, both against
people and
equipment
remained an issue of strategic importance. The risk to helicopters
on the
ground in
particular was of concern, and while rear basing (where possible)
could
minimise
the risk, the better option was to ensure that effective physical
protection
measures
were in place. CJO was to
conduct a rapid investigation into the
provision of
additional physical protection for helicopters at the
COB.”
1196.
The Chiefs of
Staff also noted that the C‑RAM capability had been off‑line
during
the IDF
attack, undergoing repairs after an earlier attack. The
introduction of Phalanx
could not
be advanced. It was agreed that Scan Eagle cover should be extended
until
Hermes was
operational in theatre.
1197.
On 11 May, Dr
Sarah Beaver, Command Secretary at PJHQ, updated Lord
Drayson on
the procurement process for hardened accommodation at
BAS.628
She asked
Lord Drayson to approve the first tranche of building work and to
write to
Mr Timms
seeking the Treasury’s agreement in principle that funding for the
project
could be
met from the Reserve.
1198.
The proposals
received from the contractor quoted “some £95m” for
the
work,
excluding VAT. The build would be done in three tranches: the first
providing
dining and
welfare facilities for 4,500 personnel and the later two providing
sleeping
accommodation
for up to 2,000, a hospital and gym facilities.
626
Letter
Browne to Timms, 29 March 2007, [untitled].
627
Minutes, 24
April 2007, Chiefs of Staff meeting.
628
Minute
Beaver to PS/Min(DES), 11 May 2007, ‘Iraq – Force Protection –
Hardened Accommodation
at Basra
COB’.
203