Defence Equipment and Support

Defence Equipment and Support
Name	Defence Equipment and Support
Formed	2007
Headquarters	Abbey Wood, Bristol
Chief1 name	Andy Start
Chief1 position	Chief Executive
Parent department	Ministry of Defence
Website	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-equipment-and-support

Defence Equipment and Support. It is the procurement and support organisation of the Ministry of Defence, responsible for equipping and supporting the British Armed Forces. Formed in 2007 from the merger of the Defence Procurement Agency and the Defence Logistics Organisation, it manages the entire lifecycle of military equipment from acquisition to disposal. Headquartered at Abbey Wood in Bristol, it is a critical enabler for the operational capability of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force.

History

The origins of centralised defence procurement in the UK can be traced to reforms following the 1998 Strategic Defence Review. This led to the creation of the Defence Procurement Agency in 1999 and the Defence Logistics Organisation in 2000. Persistent challenges, notably those highlighted in the 2009 Gray Report on acquisition, drove further reform. The organisation was formally established in April 2007 under the leadership of its first Chief of Defence Materiel, Sir Kevin O'Donoghue. Subsequent transformations, including the 2014 "DE&S Operating Model" and the implementation of the "DE&S Trading Entity" status, aimed to improve commercial agility and project delivery, influenced by reviews such as the 2011 Levene Report.

Organisation and structure

DE&S is structured into several key delivery teams aligned with military domains and support functions. These include the Naval Ships, Submarines, and Support teams, the Land Equipment and Support teams, and the Air Capability and Support teams. Critical enabling functions are provided by the Defence Nuclear Organisation, the Defence Safety Authority, and the Defence Digital team. The organisation operates from its main site at Abbey Wood and other locations across the UK, including Bristol, Bath, and sites supporting the Royal Navy Submarine Service at HMNB Clyde.

Responsibilities and functions

Its primary role is to acquire, maintain, and dispose of equipment and services for the British Armed Forces. This encompasses end-to-end lifecycle management, from initial concept and assessment through to in-service support and final decommissioning. Key functions include commercial and contract management, engineering, project delivery, logistics, and safety regulation. DE&S also plays a vital role in supporting UK operations worldwide, such as those in Eastern Europe following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, ensuring the rapid provision of equipment like the NLAW anti-tank system.

Major projects and equipment

DE&S manages a vast portfolio of complex defence programmes. For the Royal Navy, this includes the delivery of the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers and the Dreadnought-class submarine programme. For the British Army, key projects involve the Ajax armoured vehicle and the Challenger 3 tank. In support of the Royal Air Force, it oversees the Tempest future combat air system and the sustainment of the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet. It also manages strategic enablers like the Skynet satellite communications system.

Relationship with industry

DE&S maintains a critical strategic partnership with the UK and international defence industry. It works closely with major prime contractors such as BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, MBDA, and Leonardo, as well as a vast network of small and medium-sized enterprises. This relationship is governed by frameworks like the Single Source Regulations Office and strategic accords such as the UK Defence Solutions Centre. Collaborative international projects, including the F-35 Lightning II programme with Lockheed Martin and the Joint Strike Fighter partners, are also central to its work.

Leadership and key personnel

The organisation is led by a Chief Executive, a role held since 2021 by Andy Start, who also holds the title of the Ministry of Defence’s Permanent Secretary for Defence Equipment and Support. The Chief Executive is supported by a senior leadership team including the Director General for the Naval and the Director General for the Land domains. The head of DE&S reports to the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence and works closely with the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Defence Equipment Minister.

Category:Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) Category:Defence procurement organizations Category:Government agencies established in 2007