Too Large, Too Late and incredibly expensive MOD runabouts bound for sunny Afghanistan.

The Times report today about the unveiling of the new 23 tonne US Cougar made by Force Protection Inc. and boldly renamed / rebranded as the Mastiff. This extravagant Press freebie on Salisbury PLain - which some of the sharper eyed members of the Press might have noticed is not quite like Afghanistan in the hilliness stakes resulted in press stories by the unquestioning and gullible hacks, and provide (as Rupe's Rags do) typical spin to cover ;

1. The huge , consistent and historical cock ups in Defence Procurement

2. The fact that UK run industry cannnot even make a serviceable, armoured vehicle any more

3. That it really is , with the 100 Pinzgauer Vector vehicles bound for Afghanistan the only way to carry round the "new" out of date BOWMAN-CPI Digital Base communication system which is too heavy for Land Rovers to carry.

Presented as a replacement (at £1/4 Mn per throw) for the indaequately armoured "snatch" Land Rovers this hugely expensive sticking plaster adds a further burden of costs of spares, and base training , and a further front line burden , of training mechanics, the need for low loaders , more back up equipment, spares to carry and a higher overhead of maintenance staff, plus their housing , catering etc., Press reports state they cost £1/4 Mn. each but the manufacturers press release at the date of order 11th August (4 weeks ago!) states the order for 85 vehicles is US$63 Mn. = approx £400,000 "The contract also includes associated spares, technical manuals, and field service support and is worth approximately $63 million. "

This, we are sold, "will provide commanding officers with an additional option when planning patrols in the most hostile parts of Iraq and Afghanistan."

Curiously, the Times notes,the Mastiff "will not replace the Land Rover", which means that 2 /3 squaddies in the Mastiff may be OK if Johnny Taliban decides to let off a firework or two , but the PBI in the Land Rover is have to make do with the Land Rovers - which , let's be honest, provides more protection than the cloth top Jeeps they use as runabouts at weekends.

Probably the "operational option" facing the CO is, do I sit in the Land Rover which splits open like a sardine can, or this 23 tonne behemoth ( wait for the winter mud and snow) which the glossy booklet provided in every glove box which says "can eat improvised explosive devices for breakfast”.

Previously, on Mon 24th July the MOD announced the purchase and supply to Afghanistan of 100 Armored Pinzgauer "Vector" Patrol Vehicles for US$27 Mn. from Armor Holdings Inc. of Jacksonville Florida but production will be from the UK facilities and completion is expected in early (?) 2007, to add to the 66 already in theatre.

A second element was the supply of 70 additional up-armoured and upgraded "Warrior" FV430 to equip a mechanised infantry battlegroup for Iraq by the spring of 2007, again on top of the 54 already ordered.

Not forgetting - two extra CH-47 CHINOOK's to be deployed: the first in early September 2006, and the second in October. Wow !!

The MOD Bulletin stated that "This new package emerged from the urgent review ordered by the Defence Secretary last month". The Defence Secretary's armoured vehicles review was announced on 26th June 2006.

When the announcement was made in July (Hansard) it was pointed out that the MOD had already spent over £527m on Urgent Operational Requirements for Iraq and Afghanistan designed to improve force protection. This is in addition to the planned £6bn annual defence procurement budget. There was no discussion in the House, the Opposition presumably sat and listened and said nothing - they politley call it bi-partisanship.

Readers are reminded that public discussions about the weakness of force protection should troops to be deployed in Afghnaistan was discussed in December 2004 - see Lord Patel's 3 pennorth at the time.


FOOTNOTE
Force Protection Inc. (OTCBB:FRPT) announced their Q2 results on August 15th. Record sales of US$56 Mn. and highest qrtly profits of US$ 1.3 Mn.The offocial announcement included the statement..."A recent contract from the British Ministry of Defense for protected vehicles to support infantry patrols marks an additional expansion of the company to the international defense industry."

The company started up making these vehicles in 2003.

Now I ask you ... does this sound like panic measures, brought in at the last minute and huge cost to attempt to stem a gaping hole in the force defence of our troops. ? A gaping hole which critics had been sounding off for literally years ?


A hole which was overlooked on the watch at the MOD by our once and future Prime Minister Battlin' Jock Jack Reid.