MOD welcomes NAO report on fast jet support
17 Jul 07
The MOD has welcomed a report published by the National Audit Office today, Tuesday 17 July 2007, on the successful transformation of logistic support to Royal Air Force Harrier and Tornado aircraft.
A Tornado GR4 passes through bomb smoke at the Biggin Hill Air Fair in June 2007
[Picture: Mike Jorgensen]
The transformation led to savings of more than £1.4bn, while maintaining aircraft availability on the front line.
In recent years the MOD has significantly changed the way it carries out repair, planned overhaul and upgrade activity for fast jets in order to drive down costs and improve reliability and capability. Today's report underlines the success of this strategy.
Between 2001-02 and 2006-07 the MOD saved £1.3bn and £109m on support costs for Tornado and Harrier respectively, whilst maintaining aircraft availability. The NAO report concludes that MOD's transformation of logistics support to fast jets represents "good value for money."
Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, Lord Drayson, said:
"Transforming the way we support Harrier and Tornado has reaped significant benefits, not only improving performance but also enabling the Department to save more than £1.4bn.
"This is ultimately about resources for the front line. Better and cheaper support for these jets not only maintains availability, but also means we can free up more resources to the front line.
"The changes we have delivered in fast jet support demonstrate the Defence Industrial Strategy in action. I am also pleased to see industry contributing to improving support for these key aircraft, and across other areas of our equipment business.
"Today's National Audit Office Report recognises these achievements and I welcome their endorsement of our programme."