The £640k role to deliver the right kit in the right place, right time – and at the right price
The National Armaments Director: could they be the most powerful person in defence that you've never heard of?
The position was created in the Strategic Defence Review – possibly the biggest defence shakeup in 50 years.
Part of it aims to fix what has been called the "broken" defence procurement system, and this has led to the creation of the new role.
The NAD will be the link between the military and the defence industry.
And it will be their job to make sure the Armed Forces have the equipment they need — on time and on budget.
They'll go to the heads of the three services with options of kit and equipment to purchase and match the capabilities they say they need.
The authors of Strategic Defence Review say this new role gives the taxpayer better value for money by making sure the Armed Forces are well equipped.
In addition to this there'll be clearer accountability and less waste.
The Government says lessons will be learned from the UK's support to Ukraine where the procurement and distribution of essential equipment was fast-tracked to the Ukrainian frontline.
This new job does come with a hefty cost - a salary of £640,000 including bonuses, which means the National Armaments Director will earn more than double what the Prime Minister does.
But the outgoing Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, told MPs he thinks it's worth it.
"With the amount of money that we're spending that the difference that the right person might be able to make, I don't think we should fixate on their precise salary," he explained
"We should fixate on them improving so that we get a much better system. You get much better value for the taxpayer, and we get much better, service to the warfighter.
"So I wouldn't mind if they're paid, whether it's £300,000 or £600,000 or £1m.
"I want to be really selfish that they deliver – because it can be so much better than it currently is."
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