Warriors' £1 billion upgrade announced 25.10.11

A £1 billion upgrade of the Army's Warrior armoured vehicles was announced today. Prime Minister David Cameron and Defence Secretary Philip Hammond made the announcement during a visit to Lockheed Martin UK in Bedford. The upgrade is to extend the service life of the vehicles through to 2040 and beyond. Mr Hammond said: "As a key step towards meeting our requirements for Future Force 2020, the upgraded Warriors will give commanders and their soldiers greater flexibility and firepower." The Ministry of Defence (MOD) plans to award the contract to Lockheed Martin UK for the demonstration and manufacture of the upgraded vehicles, which it said will create and sustain around 600 jobs at the firm and its suppliers. Hundreds of vehicles will be fitted with an improved turret and new, stabilised 40mm cannon enabling them to fire more accurately while on the move. They will also benefit from a new armour mounting system which will allow them to be fitted with different types of armour. The head of the Army, Chief of General Staff General Sir Peter Wall, who also visited the firm, said: "This announcement of an upgrade to one of the Army's most important fighting vehicles is extremely welcome. "Warrior will continue to be at the heart of our combat capability for at least another 25 years with state-of-the-art firepower and electronics. "Wherever the Army deploys, our infantry will depend on its superior protection, mobility and lethality. This will be a battle winner." Mr Cameron said the upgrade meant Britain's armed forces were going to have "really good equipment". He said: "We made difficult decisions in the strategic spending review so we could spend money on important equipment like this. "It's a £1 billion investment, 90 per cent of the jobs and the work are going to be done here in the UK. " Four soldiers, one a close friend of Prince William, died in Iraq in April 2007 when a bomb ripped through the unprotected underside of their Warrior vehicle. At the inquest into their deaths, coroner David Masters said troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan needed better protection. The explosive device was buried in a road in Basra and was detonated as the Warrior passed over it. Second Lieutenant Joanna Dyer, 24, who was at Sandhurst military academy with William, died in the blast. The other victims were: Corporal Kris O'Neill, 27, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, of the Royal Army Medical Corps; Private Eleanor Dlugosz, 19, from Southampton, also of the Royal Army Medical Corps, and Kingsman Adam James Smith, 19, from Liverpool, of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. Recording verdicts of unlawful killing, David Masters, coroner for Wiltshire, told an inquest in Trowbridge he would be meeting the then Armed Forces minister Bob Ainsworth to recommend the armour issue was dealt with speedily.

Category:

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• Forces
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• Warrior
• Armoured
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• Upgrade
• Prime
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• Philip
• Hammond
• Lockheed
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• UK

[scottishlad1987]

shame it takes a public verdict of unlawful killing for our leaders to provide our troops the proper protection. and why are we buying them from an american company while at the same time canceling orders with BAE???

[davesr25]

Iran say hello to your new terror......

[Zero7evenX]

@bangkapi10240 BAE Systems is the worlds largest arms developer.

Here's a quote from Wikipedia's 'Arms Industry' page:

"As of 2008 Britain has become the worlds leading developer of arms with British company BAE Systems"

And Britain has the 4th largest military budget in the world. Take it up with the politicians.

That's my last reply to you.

[Zero7evenX]

@MrNellie2200 I don't see any predictions of the future in that comment. If you're implying that something is incorrect then point it out.

[bangkapi10240]

@Zero7evenX - you have the 11th largest military BUDGET - and as for the worlds largest military developer what garbage - America, Russia, China, are way ahead of you, France, India and even Brazil will over take you within the next 2 years. You don't even have an aircraft carrier but at least the French can lend you one. Even Thailand has an air craft Carrier built in Spain with your EU money subsidies.

[MrNellie2200]

@Zero7evenX preditions of the future? Thats interesting.

[Zero7evenX]

@bangkapi10240 1. Our country is nowhere near the toilet. But keep watching your propagandist news

2. The British Military reputation is firmly intact, as it's still the standard and kite mark that all other nation strive to meet, and it will always be that way

3. We have the 4th largest military budget in the world along with the best trained and most capable forces & we're the worlds largest arms developer.

Don't concern yourself with the Falklands. Be concerned about how you're misinformed

[JohnSmithTheSecond]

@bangkapi10240 These costs have been factored in many years ago. They started negotiating this upgrade well over a year ago.

Things need to be maintained. And if you ignore one area completely and focus on the other, then what do you think will happen? I'm glad you have no say in the matter!

[bangkapi10240]

Why would you spend £1 billion now when your whole country is in the toilet - and sorry but the British Military reputation is long gone most people just laugh now at this so called reputation because it is a myth in today's world. Your own PM only recently stated we will protect the Falkland Islands at all costs - with what we ask,

[MitchofSmeg]

"much greater firepower"

A little bit of an understatement in my view lol.