14.1  |  Military equipment (post-conflict)

CONSIDERING WHETHER TO DEPLOY REAPER TO IRAQ

1220.  ACM Stirrup visited Iraq from 13 to 16 May 2007.640 Considering the IDF threat,

the report of his visit stated:

“CDS believed an armed UAV would provide the ideal platform to deliver a precision,

time sensitive response whilst minimising the risks of collateral damage.”

1221.  Lt Gen Figgures was tasked to investigate how an armed UAV might be acquired.

1222.  On 25 May, Lt Gen Figgures advised ACM Stirrup that there were three options

for providing a weaponised UAV in Iraq:

• extending the Reaper programme (a UK version of Predator B) to purchase

extra airframes for Iraq (the funding at this time was for three airframes all to be

delivered to Afghanistan);

• asserting pressure on the US to apportion a greater proportion of Predator A

hours to MND(SE); or

• investigating the possibility of weaponising Hermes 450.641

1223.  On 12 June, Air Cdre Gordon advised Lord Drayson that the option to purchase a

further nine Reaper as part of the 2007 Equipment Programme had been delayed until

the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review was known.642

1224.  The Inquiry asked ACM Stirrup if there were decisions he wished had been taken

differently during his time as DCDS(EC).643 He replied that one of the difficulties had

been that pressures on the defence programme and equipment plan had meant that

money was taken out of areas that needed increased investment.

1225.  ACM Stirrup told the Inquiry that, up until 2002, funding in ISTAR had increased

by 15 percent but some of that was removed in subsequent years through savings

measures. He added:

“I also felt that we were far too slow to improve our capabilities in persistent

surveillance, particularly through unmanned vehicles, and when I became CDS,

one of the first things I did was to stop the arguing about whether we should

purchase Reaper from the United States and tell people to go and buy it, and it is

now in operation as a consequence.”

640  Minute PSO/CDS to PSSC/SofS [MOD], 17 May 2007, ‘CDS Visit to Iraq 13‑16 May 07’.

641  Minute DCDS(EC) to PSO/CDS, 25 May 2007, ‘CDS Visit to Iraq 13‑16 May 07 – Equipment Issues’.

642  Minute DEC ISTAR to PS/Min(DES), 12 June 2007, ‘ISTAR UORs’.

643  Public hearing, 1 February 2010 page 64.

207