Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) (Cancelled)
UK · Early 2000s (programme started) - 2021 (cancelled) · £430 million (spent by March 2020); original estimate for upgrades was £1 billion.
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchProgramme cancelled in 2021 due to changing battlefield priorities and persistent issues. - Highlighted challenges in complex defence upgrade programmes, including cost control and timely delivery. - The Warrior will be replaced by the Boxer armoured fighting vehicle instead. - £430 million spent on the programme before cancellation, raising questions about procurement efficiency.
Key engineering challenges
Integrating a new turret and weapon system (40mm CTA International CT40 cannon) into the Warrior platform. - Extending the service life of the Warrior to 2040. - Significant delays and cost overruns.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- British Army / UK Ministry of Defence (MOD)
- Lead contractor
- Lockheed Martin (initially for WFLIP upgrade); BAE Systems (competitor)
- Lead designers
- Lockheed Martin (WFLIP turret); BAE Systems (new turret design)
- Project type
- upgrade (cancelled)
- Scale
- Intended to upgrade 380 Warriors; 245 vehicles for WFLIP, remainder as Armoured Battlefield Support Vehicles (ABSV).
- Disciplines
- Mechanical engineering; electrical engineering; armaments; systems integration; digital systems
- Standards & frameworks
- —
Sources: Wikipedia: FV510 Warrior (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FV510_Warrior) - Army Technology: No in-service date for Warrior CSP despite £430m spend to date (https://www.army-technology.com/news/warrior-csp/) - Hansard: Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2023-05-03/debates/438852AB-7ED0-4A43-BD76-272088C64809/WarriorCapabilitySustainmentProgramme)