The Defence Secretary speaking about the MOD/SDR tomorrow...
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The Defence Secretary speaking about the MOD/SDR tomorrow...
The obvious venue being the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
RUSI Members’ Offer
Defence Secretary to announce outline root and branch
reform of Ministry of Defence
0930, Friday 13 August 2010
RUSI would like to offer its Members the opportunity to attend a speech, followed by questions, from the Defence Secretary as he announces plans for reform of the Ministry of Defence.
The Secretary of State is also likely to give an update on the progress of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
This event, being held at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, is open to all RUSI Members.
Message ends.
RUSI Members’ Offer
Defence Secretary to announce outline root and branch
reform of Ministry of Defence
0930, Friday 13 August 2010
RUSI would like to offer its Members the opportunity to attend a speech, followed by questions, from the Defence Secretary as he announces plans for reform of the Ministry of Defence.
The Secretary of State is also likely to give an update on the progress of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
This event, being held at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, is open to all RUSI Members.
It wont be anything formal, just the usual collection of thoughts on whats gone on, and how the process is working. I'd be amazed if there were any policy announcements at all, but its got to be tarted up to appeal to the RUSI crowd to get them in town!
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We clip the wings of the RAF at our peril
We clip the wings of the RAF at our peril - The Telegraph 12 Aug 10
A clearer picture of precisely how the Government intends to manage these cuts will emerge later today when Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, sets out his vision for the future of the Ministry of Defence. But the fact that his department has singled out the RAF to bear the lion's share suggests that the Government is failing to grasp the crucial importance of air superiority in modern combat.
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" But the fact that his department has singled out the RAF to bear the lion's share suggests that the Government is failing to grasp the crucial importance of air superiority in modern combat. "
Well successive governments have failed to grasp the importance of Sea Power or the importance of providing adequate protection for ground forces, so I suppose it's reassuring to know they are unbiased in their ignorance...
Well successive governments have failed to grasp the importance of Sea Power or the importance of providing adequate protection for ground forces, so I suppose it's reassuring to know they are unbiased in their ignorance...
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" But the fact that his department has singled out the RAF to bear the lion's share suggests that the Government is failing to grasp the crucial importance of air superiority in modern combat. "
" But the fact that his department has singled out the RAF to bear the lion's share suggests that the Government is realising that the Royal Air Farce is a complete waste of money "
Tee Hee...
3.....2........1.......
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Well, considering Their Airships have long since lost any kind of touch with reality regarding the procurement, development and use of air power, maybe vec has a point....
mind you, parking a T42 ontop of a big rock requiring it to be brought back thousands of miles on a barge, or driving a nuclear submarine into the sea bed because you're ripping a student a fresh @rsehole, or being more worried about the loss of your ipod when you've just been jumped by the Republican Guard doesnt exactly cover the navy in glory either does it?
And we wont mention the Chandlers...
Seriously though... Yes, it should have been announced to parliament. Yes,it is likely to be a fairly hollow presentation designed to make it look as if something meaningful is going on. Yes, root and branch reform is absolutely necessary and long overdue.
But given how deep rooted the vested interests are in that building and how deeply the tentacles spread, will it actually happen? Is Foxy strong enough to bang heads together and force it through, to make it a reality??
For someone who isnt a defence expert, I have very grave doubts that he can make it happen. Unless I start seeing signs to the contrary, I'm afraid IMHO its a Titanic deckchair shuffling exercise., particularly in light of statements like:
"I will ask the Defence Reform Unit to work with the Permanent Secretary, Chief of the Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs to find ways of devolving greater responsibility for the running of the Services themselves," Dr Fox is to say. "We need to review all our current practices to ensure that we are using our greatest asset - our people - to the best of their ability.
So, the same out of touch senior officers who led us to this point are being tasked to find part of the way back? Genius....
And incidentally... I dont know if any of you caught Newsnight 2 days ago, where John Redwood pulled out the interesting bit about public spending actually going UP 15% across the whole lifetime of this parliament... so if thats the case, why the hell is everyone rushing to the Hairiest Of Hairy Shirts Competition?
Something is up. We're all being taken for mugs again.
mind you, parking a T42 ontop of a big rock requiring it to be brought back thousands of miles on a barge, or driving a nuclear submarine into the sea bed because you're ripping a student a fresh @rsehole, or being more worried about the loss of your ipod when you've just been jumped by the Republican Guard doesnt exactly cover the navy in glory either does it?
And we wont mention the Chandlers...
Seriously though... Yes, it should have been announced to parliament. Yes,it is likely to be a fairly hollow presentation designed to make it look as if something meaningful is going on. Yes, root and branch reform is absolutely necessary and long overdue.
But given how deep rooted the vested interests are in that building and how deeply the tentacles spread, will it actually happen? Is Foxy strong enough to bang heads together and force it through, to make it a reality??
For someone who isnt a defence expert, I have very grave doubts that he can make it happen. Unless I start seeing signs to the contrary, I'm afraid IMHO its a Titanic deckchair shuffling exercise., particularly in light of statements like:
"I will ask the Defence Reform Unit to work with the Permanent Secretary, Chief of the Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs to find ways of devolving greater responsibility for the running of the Services themselves," Dr Fox is to say. "We need to review all our current practices to ensure that we are using our greatest asset - our people - to the best of their ability.
So, the same out of touch senior officers who led us to this point are being tasked to find part of the way back? Genius....
And incidentally... I dont know if any of you caught Newsnight 2 days ago, where John Redwood pulled out the interesting bit about public spending actually going UP 15% across the whole lifetime of this parliament... so if thats the case, why the hell is everyone rushing to the Hairiest Of Hairy Shirts Competition?
Something is up. We're all being taken for mugs again.
Last edited by Jabba_TG12; 13th Aug 2010 at 08:57.
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And SoS apparently said not very much:
Liam Fox reveals plans for 'leaner' Ministry of Defence | Politics | guardian.co.uk
Top military officers face axe to fill £37bn defence black hole - Telegraph
S41
Liam Fox reveals plans for 'leaner' Ministry of Defence | Politics | guardian.co.uk
Top military officers face axe to fill £37bn defence black hole - Telegraph
S41
Looks like we are heading for a single joint command chain, reading between the lines.
Could be good for the services as a whole. Single, joined up command above 1* level - reduced wage bill and efficiencies through closing 3 separate commands and co-locating into one unit - I wonder if that could be housed in London or elsewhere? - Dartmouth gets my vote - better location than HYW or Wilton.
Could be good for the services as a whole. Single, joined up command above 1* level - reduced wage bill and efficiencies through closing 3 separate commands and co-locating into one unit - I wonder if that could be housed in London or elsewhere? - Dartmouth gets my vote - better location than HYW or Wilton.
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At least this will end the constant speculation that the RAF will be disbanded or all of the forces merged into one.
This is the best bit.......
There would also need to be a ''cultural shift which will see a leaner and less centralised organisation combined with devolved processes which carry greater accountability and transparency''.
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No - at least not from a merger with the paras. Obviously jointery is a firm fact of life nowadays and mergers at unit level may make sense. I am not indicating a preference either way, but marine regiments in the early-eighteenth century were part of the army structure so at least there is a precursor in history.
I was simply indicating that at least we can concentrate on these important issues without descending into arguments over which service will take over the RAF, or what a UKDF will look like which has recently been the subject of endless debate.
I was simply indicating that at least we can concentrate on these important issues without descending into arguments over which service will take over the RAF, or what a UKDF will look like which has recently been the subject of endless debate.
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"Dartmouth gets my vote - better location than HYW or Andover."
Fixed that for you, Grimweasel
Plenty of building space here in the Test valley if the current Co-op distribution centre build leaves us any of the old airfield.
Fixed that for you, Grimweasel
Plenty of building space here in the Test valley if the current Co-op distribution centre build leaves us any of the old airfield.
Jabba TG12 said:
"So, the same out of touch senior officers who led us to this point are being tasked to find part of the way back? Genius...."
May I refer you to the MAA and the use of previously employed labour.
"So, the same out of touch senior officers who led us to this point are being tasked to find part of the way back? Genius...."
May I refer you to the MAA and the use of previously employed labour.
I think the day when a Pilot actually flies something like a fast jet into harms way is coming to an end, not this decade but most definitely the next one.
In 20 years time you will still see Pilots who did this but they will be giving talks about it to awe struck kids at Duxford and other museums.
The move to Intelligent drones where an operator will control 5-6 in an attack formation is probably not really that far off if it has not been done already.
Pilots will still be needed for the super transport aircraft that will fly close to a war zone with 50-60 drones and then release and recover them if that is required but pilots with actual combat experience will become a rarity as its cheaper to do it this way both in materials and in the life of a pilot.
The threat then becomes one of shooting down Satellites and other communication methods to remove the ability of distant users to control drones but thats a further stage on.
In 20 years time you will still see Pilots who did this but they will be giving talks about it to awe struck kids at Duxford and other museums.
The move to Intelligent drones where an operator will control 5-6 in an attack formation is probably not really that far off if it has not been done already.
Pilots will still be needed for the super transport aircraft that will fly close to a war zone with 50-60 drones and then release and recover them if that is required but pilots with actual combat experience will become a rarity as its cheaper to do it this way both in materials and in the life of a pilot.
The threat then becomes one of shooting down Satellites and other communication methods to remove the ability of distant users to control drones but thats a further stage on.
Pilots will still be needed for the super transport aircraft
So to re-word your sentence this is probably the more likely scenario:
Automatic Pilots will be needed for the super transport aircraft that will fly close to a war zone with 50-60 drones/manned aircraft and then release and recover them if that is required but pilots with actual combat experience will be necessary as its safer to do it this way both in loss-rate and through the required use of live weapons.
I'm gob-smacked that the freight world hasn't grasped the remotely piloted aircraft, more space and no need to heavily pressurise the cabin (or certainly all of it) - it all adds up to more freight or more range (or a bit of both!).
Let's face it, a perfectly flown IFR procedure is the Air Trafficker's dream!!!
We are so far away from the Artificial Intelligence (AI) required for fully autonomous operations - just check out the stuff on AI on the internet. The Cray Supercomputer required to think like a 2 year old is not going to fit into a small aircraft just yet!!! We've seen some automatics but no autonomy - what's the difference? Automatic is something that conforms to programming - ie. does as it is told/programmed. Autonomous is something that self governs - ie. decides what is the best thing to do for itself. There is a big difference.
Sadly (or happily, depending on your view), your Duxford prediction is way, way too early!
Anyway, back to the thread, I believe that MoD will become the single joint-service organisation that we're all talking about. I reckon CDS will be the head and that CNS/CGS/CAS will go. The CinCs of the 3 Services will remain and be the heads of each Service - at least 30% saving in MoD and also some streamlining at Navy Cmd, Land Cmd and Air Cmd. It makes no sense in having 4-star CNS/CGS/CAS and then replicate with 4-star CinCs - that's about £160k-£180k per person (about £500k for all 3!). Let's face it as well, all of the GOC's expensive HQs could go or be "blobbed" up as well - there's another big saving. If a single Joint-HQ does form at HQ Land Forces, then that started life as an RFC/RAF Station anyway, so it would be "home from home"!
LJ
