Liam Fox the Defence Minister made a speech at Farnborough giving a warning about the affordability of defence projects in the current climate. Although some might say in any climate.
The most promising part of the speech was the support for export programmes. This is quite different from what Robin Cook started out with in the last government, although he soon found out it was easier said than done.
Some of it sounded like fine words and it will be interesting to find what happens in the longer term. Statements like upgrading existing products is taking funding away from new technology. This sounds real enough yet getting those few extra years or enabling an existing item to meet a new threat sound more cost effective than letting them become incapable. Also the statement about too much optimisation also sounds good but with many defence products you either win or lose and being unable to hit the target isn’t a useful option. In reality watch out for less upgrading, more new technology, less gold plating.
Other statements like recognising sovereignty for some items but co-operating more with the French are things that the aircraft industry has done for years. Cutting numbers to make up for cost overruns isn’t that new either. Co-operating with the French is something that has been mentioned in both nuclear and aircraft carrier work so perhaps that is a clue to his thinking on one or both of those.
In conclusion the export support and new technology themes are positive. We await the defence review.