MoD creates standalone defence procurement role

Ministry of Defence says the bolstered director of armaments role will help to fix "broken" defence procurement system
The Ajax armoured tank has been one of the symbols of UK defence procurement failure. Photo: Martin Hibberd/Alamy

By Tevye Markson

28 Oct 2024

The Ministry of Defence has opened recruitment for a new standalone national armaments director to help fix the "broken" defence procurement system.

The NAD will be responsible for reforming defence procurement and delivering a new defence industrial strategy. They will be asked to "ensure the armed forces are properly equipped to defend Britain, to build up the British defence industry and to crack down on waste”.

The NAD role is currently part of the Defence, Equipment and Support chief executive's responsibilities. DE&S chief executive Andy Start, who will retain the role until the director is appointed, said: “This fully fledged NAD role is a vitally important step towards transforming defence acquisition and the industrial base in the UK. 

“This new role will have the levers needed to ensure our armed forces have the right kit and to deliver the defence industrial strategy we need for growth.”

The MoD said the move to bolster the NAD role is part of its plans to fix the defence procurement system,  which has been described by the Public Accounts Committee and Defence Committee as "broken" in recent reports.

In its latest report, last year, PAC called for “root and branch” reform to break a cycle of costly delay and failure.

The NAD will be responsible for delivering the capabilities required from industry to execute defence plans and operations; shaping and delivering the defence industrial strategy which will be launched in the coming weeks; and ensuring a resilient supply chain and the required readiness of the national "arsenal".

They will also lead on UK defence exports and acquisition reform and "harmonising" procurement, working closely with partners elsewhere in government, industry, academia and internationally to deploy best practice and investment.

Healey announced his desire to create a standalone national armaments director position in a speech at the Policy Exchange think tank in March, while he was the shadow defence secretary.

In the speech, he said DE&S would focus on the “delivery and execution” of defence procurement programmes, while the NAD would provide “direction”.

The new standalone role is one of a series of changes planned by the government in what it is describing as “the biggest reform of the Ministry of Defence in over 50 years”. 

It also announced that the chief of the defence staff will oversee a new military strategic headquarters, where they will formally command the individual service chiefs for the first time. They will "now be central to investment decisions between the services, along with the defence secretary and permanent secretary", the MoD said.

The reforms will “radically simplify” the department, it said, with “governance and processes streamlined, with innovation in technology and an improved approach to data underpinning everything the department does”. The MoD said the reforms will also be informed by lessons from its support to Ukraine, which it said had been "highly praised". 

Healey said: "Our government is delivering the change we promised: cracking down on waste and boosting Britain’s defence industry. We will forge 'One Defence', which is clear in its goals and consistent in its methods, to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

"The world is more dangerous, with growing Russian aggression, conflict in the Middle East and increasing global threats. These vital reforms will make UK military decision-making faster, keep the country safer and achieve best value for taxpayers."

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