ORAC
19th Jan 2010, 07:55
AWST (Ares): Another Day, Another Delay (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a15fd8ebe-7fc7-4eaa-b704-ad27181a92c9&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest)
Senior UK government officials now admit the initial gate decision on a successor to the Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarine has “more… likely” slipped to beyond the General Election, due no later than June.
The admission was tucked away in the transcript of a Parliamentary Defense Committee hearing with Paul Drayson, the minister responsible for defense acquisition reform, and Bill Jeffrey, the permanent under secretary for defense. The day before the hearing Quentin Davies, the minister for defense equipment and support had confirmed to Parliament the decision was still a "few months away."
The decision moving beyond the general election may be politically convenient. Within the Labour party sustaining the UK deterrent remains a divisive issue. The latest slip will almost certainly take the decision beyond the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty conference in May. However the continuing delay will increase pressure on an already demanding development schedule.
Originally the concept phase work was due to end in September 2009, then by the end of 2009, then into early 2010. Subsequently to early 2010 a “few months” more has been added.
“We are some months away certainly from what would be called in convetional programs the Initial Gate decision” Jeffrey told the committee.
Asked whether it was “inevitable that the decision process” had slipped until after the election, Jeffrey replied this was “more likely than not.”
Senior UK government officials now admit the initial gate decision on a successor to the Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarine has “more… likely” slipped to beyond the General Election, due no later than June.
The admission was tucked away in the transcript of a Parliamentary Defense Committee hearing with Paul Drayson, the minister responsible for defense acquisition reform, and Bill Jeffrey, the permanent under secretary for defense. The day before the hearing Quentin Davies, the minister for defense equipment and support had confirmed to Parliament the decision was still a "few months away."
The decision moving beyond the general election may be politically convenient. Within the Labour party sustaining the UK deterrent remains a divisive issue. The latest slip will almost certainly take the decision beyond the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty conference in May. However the continuing delay will increase pressure on an already demanding development schedule.
Originally the concept phase work was due to end in September 2009, then by the end of 2009, then into early 2010. Subsequently to early 2010 a “few months” more has been added.
“We are some months away certainly from what would be called in convetional programs the Initial Gate decision” Jeffrey told the committee.
Asked whether it was “inevitable that the decision process” had slipped until after the election, Jeffrey replied this was “more likely than not.”