Extracts from Defence Industrial Strategy 2005. The policy regarding UAVs is pretty clear, as is the intention to retain BAeS.
xxiv. We and industry share a close alignment of interest in UAV
and UCAV technology. Although at present we have no funded UCAV
programme, targeted investment in UCAV technology demonstrator
programmes would help sustain the very aerospace engineering and design
capabilities we will need to operate and support our future aircraft fleet.
Such investment would also ensure that we can make better informed
decisions which will need to be taken around 2010-2015 on the future
mix of manned and unmanned aircraft. Additionally, UK industry will have
the opportunity to develop a competitive edge in a potentially lucrative
military and civil market. We intend to move forward with a substantial
joint Technology Demonstrator Programme in this area. We hope that
appropriate arrangements will be in place to allow this to proceed in 2006.
xxv. Our plans to retain onshore the industrial capabilities required
to ensure effective through-life support to the existing and planned
fast jet fleet – and to invest in developing UCAV technology – will
also provide us with the core industrial skills required to contribute
to any future international manned fast jet programme, should the
requirement for one emerge. This recognises both the uncertainty of
our ver y long term requirements – with the possibility that we shall
want to replace elements of the Typhoon and Joint Strike Fight fleets
with manned aircraft – and that we should avoid continuing to fund
industrial capabilities for which we have no identified requirement.
xxvi. Critical mission systems, including electro-optical (EO)
sensors, radar, Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Defensive
Aids Systems (DAS) are also significant areas where we wish to retain
onshore capability and where suppliers must be able to work with the
prime contractor and be rewarded for developing new solutions.
B4.46 In the context of the wider discussions with the industry around
consolidation and transformation, we are considering ways in which we can
take such an aspiration forward. BAE Systems is leading a UK industry team
working on UAV technologies, following some recent very successful company
and MOD-funded technology demonstration programmes. This work has
pioneered a range of agile project management techniques; an absolute
focus on key objectives, a fast decision making process, and rapid prototyping
and engineering. This approach, which we are keen to use more widely,
has significantly cut the time in which new ideas and technologies can be
realised and demonstrated. For example, BAE Systems’ own Raven UAV went
from concept to first flight in ten months. Building on the success of these
programmes, we intend to move forward subject to a value for money business
case being demonstrated and appropriate commercial arrangements being in
place with a more substantial TDP ( Technology Demonstrator Programmes)
designed to give us and industry a better understanding of key technologies
of relevance to UAVs and UCAVs more broadly. This would be a joint effort
with MOD and industry contributing to the costs. We hope that appropriate
arrangements will be in place to allow this activity to proceed in 2006.