WIREDGOV

Minister launches one stop shop to support UK Armed Forces

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE News Release (069/2007) issued by The Government News Network on 2 April 2007

Defence Minister Lord Drayson today launched a new organisation, called Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), that will equip and support our armed forces for operations.

This is the latest in a Defence Acquisition Change Programme (DACP) reforms. These changes, which work in support of the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), are already improving the way UK Forces are equipped, sustained and supported.

This reform will create one single organisation that is responsible for equipment throughout its life, from design, through delivery to disposal. By bringing these areas of responsibility together in one organisation, the Armed Forces' equipment will be better managed and with more effective maintenance, technology upgrades and cost control.

DE&S will manage a budget of £16bn, comprising some 43% of the defence budget and employ around 29,000 people across the UK and abroad

Lord Drayson said:

"My primary concern is that we continue to provide our Forces with the equipment they need to do the job asked of them. The creation of this new organisation, combining the best of military and public service cultures with a hard commercial edge, shows our determination to continually improve the support we deliver to the front line. Both MoD and Industry are making real progress in improving acquisition performance but much remains to be done."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Other key benefits of the creation of DE&S include:

the establishment of a unified approach to procurement of equipment and through-life support;

providing a single point of contact with industry and MOD customers;

a reduction in the number of internal boundaries across the acquisition system, complementing the recommended changes to the planning process and customer organisation;

encouraging the defence industry to bring together project and in-service support, thereby facilitating Through Life Capability Management and reducing cost;

2. DE&S will be led by newly-appointed Chief of Defence Materiel General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue