In light of the current and future funding constraints, it would seem an appropriate time to re-appraise the requirements demanded of the MoD as soon as possible in order either:
• to re-establish the real requirement for capabilities which were originally specified over a decade ago; or
• to definitively establish that some military capabilities are no longer required and thus ensure that any curtailment of equipment spending that may need to occur in the coming years is directed at areas of lower strategic priority for the Government.
The outputs of any new strategic review of Defence requirements would have significant consequences for the shape and content of the forward equipment procurement plan, whilst providing greater certainty to both the Department and to industry as to the Government's Defence / investment priorities.