Source · National Audit Office

The Ajax programme

Published: 11 Mar 2022 Recommendations: 5 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 5 Department: Ministry of Defence

This report assesses the problems that the Ajax programme has encountered and the challenges the MoD faces in delivering it.

Dept: Ministry of Defence Topics: Defence and national securityManaging major projectsMilitary equipment, logistics and technologyProject and service deliveryResilienceRisk and resilienceRisk management nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

5 items

5 accepted 5 implemented

Rec	Recommendation	Addressee	Acceptance	Implementation
1	Our recommendations are intended to help the Department create the necessary conditions to deliver the programme and, in doing so, apply the lessons across its other armoured vehicle programmes. It should: a) agree a credible delivery plan to IOC and FOC with GDLS-UK. In doing so, it should consider what contingency it needs to resolve existing issues and manage unknown risks and ensure that the timetable is realistic. It should assess whether the FOC target date is achievable and re-assess this as the programme progresses; Ref Page 12, paragraph 22, point a · Implemented 09/2023	Ministry of Defence	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
2	b) reassess the way the programme is governed and resourced – focusing on the role of the programme board and interfaces between the Army, DE&S and the bodies involved in trials and managing the interdependencies. Duty holders should have sufficient authority to perform their roles, and the governance structure needs to support clear and timely decision-making to provide the necessary approvals and manage programme risks; Ref Page 13, paragraph 22, point b · Implemented 03/2023	Ministry of Defence	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
3	c) improve the management information to provide more real-time visibility on progress, risks, and dependencies. This should allow all parties to have a single view on progress against milestones and budgets, clarity on risks and when action is needed; Ref Page 13, paragraph 22, point c · Implemented 09/2023	Ministry of Defence	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
4	d) ensure that the contract incentives are focused on outcomes and align the need to deliver to time with an increased focus on developing the capability, by ensuring technical issues are addressed in a timely manner; and Ref Page 13, paragraph 22, point d · Implemented 09/2023	Ministry of Defence	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
5	e) ensure that there is a clear mechanism and accountability for implementing the recommendations of its safety report. As part of this, the Department should consider the scope for streamlining the safety trials process and ensure that duty holders have sufficient authority to report and escalate findings. There is a need to ensure that the advice provided by DSTL, or any other advisory body, is given due consideration in a timely manner, and a complete record is kept of actions taken against the advice Ref Page 13, paragraph 22, point e · Implemented 03/2024	Ministry of Defence	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO

Public Accounts Committee follow-up

1 report

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.

3 Jun 2022 Public Accounts C… Seventh Report - Armoured Vehicles: the Ajax programme — 13 recommendations · parliament.uk