Cuts made to the UK defence budget when Gordon Brown was chancellor led to the shortage of helicopters in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Iraq Inquiry has heard.
John Hutton, who became defence secretary in 2008, said the shortage of helicopters “undoubtedly was a factor” during his tenure at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), according to independent.co.uk.
Go deeper with GlobalData
“The military would certainly have liked more helicopters and I think the politicians would have liked to have made them available,” he said.
Hutton also said the UK MoD’s £16bn ($25.8bn) future rapid effects system (FRES) programme to deliver armoured vehicles was set up ten years ago but has so far failed to deliver any.
This makes the case for a very urgent shake-up of the equipment procurement function of the MoD absolutely essential, Hutton said.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData
