Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Ajax’s design was based on a pre-existing vehicle, but the Department stipulated 1,200 capability requirements...
Conclusion
Ajax’s design was based on a pre-existing vehicle, but the Department stipulated 1,200 capability requirements which meant that, in effect, it had to be developed from scratch. The Department told us that, with hindsight, having so many detailed requirements had not helped it obtain the capability it wanted in the way it expected.18 It said that there was a place for off-the-shelf purchase of equipment of this type, and for its bespoke development. However, the design of Ajax was neither off-the-shelf nor bespoke. The Department and General Dynamics did not fully understand the complexity and challenges of this hybrid 10 Qq 2, 67 11 Qq 34, 84, 99; C&AG’s Report, para. 6 12 Qq 27, 84, 85 13 Qq 64, 78 14 C&AG’s Report, para. 19 15 Qq 32, 64, 65 16 Q 113; C&AG’s Report, para. 3.17 17 Q 74; C&AG’s Report, para. 19 18 Qq 13, 97; C&AG’s Report, para. 8 Armoured Vehicles: the Ajax programme 11 approach and did not manage the subsequent design changes effectively. The Department now recognises it must be particularly careful when making so many additions to something that is tried and tested.19
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The department is actively taking the actions recommended by the National Audit Office to improve the effectiveness of the Ajax programme and has accepted the recommendations made in the King Report and in this Committee report. The independent Ajax Lessons Learned Review is intended to provide insights that will help the department deliver major programmes more effectively in future. Recommendations will be considered alongside the implementation of other Ajax and wider programme management improvements underway.