War shows Army needs new missile systems, says Wallace

THE British Army could rush new rockets into service as the war in Ukraine highlights our “hopelessly out of date” artillery systems, the Defence Secretary has said.

Ben Wallace said years of campaigning in Iraq and Afghanistan had left the traditional war-fighting role of the Army “neglected” and in dire need of modernisation. Artillery systems are “not good enough… short of range” and “outgunned by most of its peer group”, he added.

Plans to introduce new precision rocket systems could be brought forward as a result. Speaking in Italy on HMS Albion, an amphibious assault ship, Mr Wallace said: “We’re investing £24billion into the Army’s equipment programme between now and the end of the decade. That’s a lot of money. Because the Army needs to catch up.

“It has been neglected by quite a few people over the last two decades. So it needs to be modernised. We need to rapidly look at the lessons of Ukraine because they have actually given us an opportunity to see not only where we’re vulnerable but actually have [we] got the balance of investment right within the Army. Are there too many of X and not enough of Y?”

Defence experts say the use of precision-guided long-range artillery has been instrumental in pushing back Russian troops. In a paper on the war in Ukraine, Rusi, a defence think tank, says that from April, the West “became Ukraine’s strategic depth”, and Kyiv’s troops “only robbed Russia of the initiative once long-range [missiles] brought Russian logistics under threat”.

Defence chiefs have long wanted to retire Britain’s ageing AS-90, a self-propelled artillery gun, which fires 155mm shells, in favour of more of the M270 multiple launch rocket system.

Mr Wallace said Britain’s AS-90 artillery system was out of date for the modern battlefield and not capable of providing “deep fires” – military terminology for long-range attacks.

Even taking into account stocks of precise weapons, Mr Wallace said: “We don’t have enough deep fires and our deep fires aren’t good enough.”

He said the extra money won from the Treasury for the Mod’s equipment plan could allow an earlier retirement date for AS-90. “The AS-90 replacement plan is in [the equipment programme] and it’s very important. If I can bring it forward, I will. Our AS-90 is hopelessly out of date, short of range and outgunned by most of its peer group.”

Not all of the additional £24billion is expected to be spent on new kit, The Daily Telegraph understands.

About half will be ring-fenced as a reserve in case existing programmes run over budget, and for research and development projects.

An estimated £6billion will be used to fill the “black hole” in MOD finances caused by years of overspends. The remainder will be used for new equipment. Some has already been allocated to the improvement programme for the RAF Chinook helicopter fleet, a move likely to save the taxpayer millions.