LONDON - Quentin Davies, U.K. minister for defense equipment and support, categorically denied reports about upcoming budget cuts in U.K. military programs.
“It’s inconceivable that we would cut defense spending,” he told reporters at DSEi Sept. 8. “We’re actually increasing defense spending in real terms this year, and we’ll continue to do that next year.”
Davies hosted a news conference to announce the award of a 150 million British pound contract to Thales to provide weapon sights and targeting devices to the U.K. Ministry of Defense.
The contract awarded today was in support of the U.K. military’s future integrated soldier technology program. During the first phase of the program, ground troops will receive new surveillance and target acquisition devices, including thermal weapon sights and rugged digital cameras. The U.S. Marine Corps also is a major user of these technologies, said Col. Bill Pointing, team leader of dismounted soldier solutions at the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s office of defense equipment and support.