Non-equipment support and other activities of DE&S. The Review has sought to understand the delivery of support functions to the Front Line (i.e., DSDA, JSC, BFPO), insofar as they impact / interact with the project and programme delivery activities of DE&S (i.e., those under the Chief Operating Officer). Although these organisations reside organisationally within DE&S the functions being delivered are distinct and although they have significant cost bases in their own right, their activities are peripheral to "core" acquisition of equipment.
Defence Industrial Strategy. The Review has not sought to make recommendations regarding the Defence Industrial Strategy, other than to understand its broad context, objectives and progress. DIS is being
implemented at a sectoral level, principally within DE&S, and clearly impacts on the acquisition system, but has been taken as a "given" set of objectives (and constraints) for the Department.
Non-Equipment Investment. The Review has primarily focussed on the acquisition and subsequent support of military equipment. It should be noted that the Department also invests a significant sum (c.£3bn p.a., of which c.£800m spent via DE&S) under the auspices of its Non-Equipment Investment Plan ("NEIP"). Much of this spending is currently focussed on delivery of the Department's Defence Information Infrastructure ("DII") IT infrastructure which is designed to integrate Head Office and Front Line in the field (and all parts in between) and as such may prove crucial to the delivery of military capability.