MoD condemned over 'cost-saving'

Brigadier Bill Kincaid, a retired former MoD director of operational requirements, said that the department's acquisition programmes were wasteful, delay-inclined, anti-innovation and lacking in firm leadership.

In a new book, published by the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, he said that a focus on bureaucratic processes meant that too often equipment arrived months - if not years - after it was needed by troops on the ground. He warned it may take a major military defeat to shake the MoD out of "institutional inertia".

"'Accountants logic' too often takes precedent over military logic and the financial bottom line is the overriding factor," he said. "Even if this may 'save' a relatively small sum of money, or decrease the very short-term risk, the potential increase in casualties is considered as a minor factor or not considered at all."

"Seemingly it needs a major defence shock to change things - a major defeat in the field, perhaps, or the collapse of DIS (the defence industrial strategy) with the demise of the onshore defence industry."

His scathing attack comes at a time when the quality of military equipment is once again under scrutiny, with the resignation last month of Major Sebastian Morley, the commander of D Squadron, 23 SAS in Afghanistan, who reportedly cited "chronic underinvestment" by the MoD.

Brig Kincaid said that despite Government claims of an increase in the defence budget, it was actually falling in real terms because the cost of military equipment was increasing at more than double the general rate of inflation.

However it was difficult make a strong case to the Treasury for more cash for the armed forces unless the MoD was able to eliminate the "substantial waste" in the procurement process.

He said too often that process resembled a stage farce or an episode of comedy, Yes Minister. "But defence is not a black comedy nor a stage farce - defence is far more important than that," he said. "We need to take tough action."

Brig Kincaid said much of the impetus for change within the MoD had gone with the departure last year of the Defence Procurement Minister, Lord Drayson, who left to pursue his motor racing ambitions. "Under Drayson the pace was hot." Brig Kincaid wrote. "He has now gone. Will his achievements be confined to the rubbish heap and will MoD revert to 'business as usual'?"