Recommendation 22

The programme remains under significant pressure. When the NAO reported, the programme was more than a year behind the revised schedule, trials involving Army crews had been suspended and noise and vibration issues remained unresolved.47 General Dynamics had continued to produce Ajax vehicles despite not receiving any payment since December 2020. Because of programme delays, the Department estimated that it owed General Dynamics £750 million for completed work. The Department told us that General Dynamics had missed critical milestones and it would not have to pay any more money until General Dynamics had hit them.48