Committee publication · Correspondence · 24 February 2026
Letter dated 11th February from the Minister for Defence Readiness and Investment to Chair providing an update on the Army’s major programmes
From: Defence Committee
Summary
Minister Luke Pollard updates the Defence Committee on the Army's major programmes as of September 2025, confirming continued progress on modernisation initiatives including Challenger 3 tanks, Boxer vehicles, and Land Deep Fires systems. The update notes that detailed spend and platform decisions are being reviewed under the 10-year Defence Investment Plan, with a full update expected in early 2026.
Key findings
- Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank: six prototypes built with signature and mobility trials completed; significant delivery risks remain against industry performance requiring close monitoring.
- Mechanised Infantry Boxer Programme: 48 vehicles contractually delivered with 10 fielded to training schools; supply chain pressures and quality issues have delayed production and revised Initial Operating Capability schedule to be published shortly.
- Land Deep Fires: M270A2 recapitalisation on track with first two launchers delivered in October 2025; approval secured for Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System and GMLRS missiles with delivery commencing 2027.
- Close Support Fires Mobile Fires Platform: acceleration approved in September 2025 to establish sovereign 155mm barrel manufacturing via Sheffield Forgemasters and Telford Rheinmetall Gun Hall, projected to generate £2.1 billion GVA over 10 years.
- Land Environment Tactical Communications (LETacCIS): improved AMBER 2 Delivery Confidence Assessment following July 2025 independent review; multiple projects successfully transferred to Field Army including Multi-Mode Radio capability and Joint Common Remote Viewing Terminal.
Tone
FactualTopics
defence-procurementmilitary-modernisationindustrial-strategynato-cooperationdefence-spending
Key actors
Luke Pollard MP, Tan (Defence Committee Chair), Ministry of Defence, Sheffield Forgemasters, Rheinmetall, Germany, Netherlands, Australia
Notable line
“The Army continues to progress through a period of reform with lessons learnt from the war in Ukraine being exploited to inform our strategic choices for the years to come.”
Key Quotes
“This latest one is shorter than usual as decisions regarding spend and platforms are currently being reviewed under the DIP process where decisions are yet to published.”
“… significant delivery risks remain against industry performance. These risks are being closely monitored through the next phase of trials as the department works …”
“… the complexity of delivery remains challenging. The impacts of ongoing global supply chain pressures have delayed production and are adding inflationary cost pressure.”
“Economic modelling indicates that the Gun Hall could support 263 direct and 313 indirect jobs in the UK supply chain, and 135 annual induced jobs through the wage- related spending of direct and indirect employees.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗