Make soldiers salesmen for British weapons, says defence trade group

The Telegraph ^ | 09 Sep 2015 | Alan Tovey

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Soldiers, sailors and pilots should sell British-made weapons to help boost exports, according to the defence industry association.

Having military staff who actually use the systems advising potential customers would increase the chances of securing foreign sales, according to ADS, which represents the country’s aerospace, defence and security businesses.

Speaking as the Government prepares its defence review, which will set out military priorities, and France’s Rafale fighter landed a series of export deals that the Eurofighter Typhoon – in which BAE Systems is a partner – missed out on, ADS chief executive Paul Everitt said the industry needs formal support from the forces.

“One thing from the defence review which would make a difference to exports is for the Ministry of Defence to have supporting exports as a core task,” he said.

“The objective is to have their staff alongside ours.”

The Eurofighter Typhoon, which is built by BAE, has lost out on export sales to its French rival

Defending the potential burden of such a move on already overstretched military budgets, Mr Everitt said: “Defence is a market that is like no other and this is not about industry demanding free advertising from the military.

“Sales of defence equipment to countries are about building long-term strategic relationships with them which are good for Britain. Countries buying defence equipment – such as the Typhoon – do not see the sale as buying from a company, they see it as buying from Britain.”

He added that Britain is lagging behind rivals such as France in its efforts to promote defence exports and that the US – the world’s biggest military exporter – has the most effective system, with the products effectively being sold by the military.

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The Royal family have been seen as an important force in promoting Britain's defence exports Photo: Ian Jones