Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
The programme remains under significant pressure.
Conclusion
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
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The department is focussed on identifying the root causes of the noise and vibration issues to develop long-term solutions to ensure Ajax operates as required by the Army. The Written Ministerial Statement laid out in Parliament on 19 May 2022 sets out the assessments underway to determine the efficacy of the modifications proposed by General Dynamics, in particularly the user trials that will provide additional data for the independent assessment on the effectiveness of the modifications and develop a safe system of work to protect personnel in future tests and trials. An update on progress will be provided to the Committee at the next Ajax evidence session.