Defense secretary Wallace intervenes in tank debate
The defense secretary, Ben Wallace, has pushed back against “rumors” that the UK’s entire tank fleet could be ditched as part of the government’s integrated review of defense, foreign and security policy.
The defense secretary’s robust intervention comes in the wake of reports late last month that the UK’s tank and armored fighting vehicles fleet could be sold off or mothballed by way of redirecting investment toward cyber warfare, space and artificial intelligence capabilities.
“We’re not scrapping all tanks”, Wallace told the Daily Telegraph today (September 12), but crucially the defense secretary omitted to confirm if all 227 Challenger 2 tanks will be upgraded.
“We still have a requirement – until technology changes – for armor, both heavy and light”, Wallace added.
In a separate interview with the BBC (September 12), Wallace said that “the idea that tanks won’t be there for the Army, upgraded and modernized, is wrong”.
But crucially Wallace admitted that the upcoming security and defense review has given serious consideration to “letting go of some equipment that isn’t serving any purpose or overmatched by adversaries”.
Separately, the Times defense editor, Lucy Fisher tweeted that “defense sources” are claiming that at minimum Britain will retain a single regiment of 56 tanks in order to keep up appearances, if not remain credible, in the armored warfare sphere.
— Lucy Fisher (@LOS_Fisher) September 12, 2020 ">http://
Defence sources say a credible minimum is a single regiment of 56 tanks, which would keep personnel up-to-date with training/tactics
— Lucy Fisher (@LOS_Fisher) September 12, 2020
Wallace gave no figures, but said review would entail "letting go of some equipment that isn't serving any purpose or overmatched by adversaries"
The government’s integrated review of defense, foreign and security policy could be published as early as November.
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