In respect of its largest defence projects there are early signs that the Ministry of Defence has begun to make realistic trade-offs between cost, time, technical requirements and the amount of equipment to be purchased. Nevertheless, the continuing variances to cost and time show the MOD needs to do consistently better. This report, which gives a progress review of the 16 largest defence projects, shows that in the last year there has been a total forecast slippage of 139 months and increase in costs of £468 million. This means that, since the projects were approved, costs have increased by £6.6 billion (around 12 per cent more than the planned cost) and the projects have been delayed by 468 months, taking almost a third longer than originally expected. It would be unrealistic to expect MOD and industry to identify every risk at the start of technically challenging projects. However, the continuing problems indicate that MOD has more to learn from historic. The MOD is accepting the capability risk and some wider costs resulting from these project delays and is having to make difficult decisions about long-term capabilities. The MOD has made a significant investment in new and upgraded helicopters to address the shortfall identified in the NAO's 2004 report. The MOD has also spent £787 million on air transport and air-to-air refuelling aircraft to support current operations and address capability gaps, such as those caused by the previously reported delays to the A400M transport aircraft. However, capability gaps remain
The Major Projects Report 2007 covers cost, time and performance data for military equipment projects in the year ended 31 March 2008. 20 of the largest projects are examined where the main investment decision has been taken by the Ministry of Defence (the MoD) along with ten projects still in the Assessment Phase. Six projects are new to this report: future lynx; modernised target acquisition designation sight/pilots night vision sensor; naval extrememly high frequency/super high frequency satellite communication terminals; Typhoon future capability programme; advanced jet trainer project and project Eagle
The Major Projects Report 2007 covers cost, time and performance data for military equipment projects in the year ended 31 March 2007. 20 of the largest projects are examined where the main investment decision has been taken by the Ministry of Defence (the MoD), along with ten projects still in the Assessment Phase. Overall the MoD is in a similar position to 2006 for forecast cost and performance, but there continue to be time delays. The current total forecast cost for the 20 largest projects is £28 billion, which is £2.5 billion over the 'most likely' budget when the main investment decision was taken. The MoD expects ten projects to deliver within their most likely budgeted cost. Most of this cost growth occurred in earlier years but, on two projects, the Type 45 Destroyer (£354 million) and the Astute Class Submarine (£142 million), there has been significant cost growth in-year. The MoD has now agreed revised contracts on both of these projects to incentivise industry to reduce costs. The MoD was again pro-active in limiting potential in-year cost increases on individual projects through reassessing requirements, reducing quantities of equipments and re-allocating expenditure to other projects or budget lines. Five projects were delayed by a total of an extra 38 months this year. Of these, the most significant were the Type 45 Destroyer which has been delayed by a further 11 months and the Terrier and Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapon projects have each been delayed by a further 12 months. Detailed Summary Sheets for each of the 30 Projects are in Volume 2 (HCP 98-II, ISBN 9780102951493). There have been significant developments of interest on a project that appeared in the Major Projects Report until 2002-03, the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) project, and detailed findings are given in Volume 3 (HCP 98-III, ISBN 9780102951509).
This particular publication is published alongside a second volume containing the project summary sheets (HCP 595-II ISBN 0102936439). This NAO report represents the 14th such report into the MoD's procurement of defence equipment. The report examines cost, time and performance data for projects in the year ended 31 March 2005. In total 30 defence equipment projects were examined. Part 1 of this report presents the overall performance of these projects and the progress in implementing Smart Acquisition; Part 2 examines the assessment phase in more detail. The NAO proposes a number of recommendations, among them are: that the cost-effective and timely delivery of mission critical equipments need to be fully recognized when the main investment decision is made; that the Department should clarify what is required to demonstrate the maturity of different types of project, including a clear statement of required best practice along with the consideration of risk and cost and time estimates that are appropriate to the individual projects undertaken.
This particular publication is published alongside a second volume containing the project summary sheets (HCP 23-II ISBN 0102943737). This NAO report into the MoD's procurement of defence equipment examines the cost, time and performance data for projects in the year ended 31 March 2006. In total 30 defence equipment projects were examined (20 where the decision to proceed had been taken and 10 still being assessed). One project, the PFI deal for Skynet 5 communication satellites is dealt with in a separate appendix so that account can be taken of its restructuring. Traditionally these reports have focused on trends and reasons for cost movement. This year the focus is on the Department's efforts to live within its means by reallocating costs and re-assessing quantities. As well as the summary assessment of performance, the report contains case studies of major projects.
The Stationery Office annual catalogue 2011 provides a comprehensive source of bibliographic information on over 4900 Parliamentary, statutory and official publications - from the UK Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and many government departments and agencies - which were issued in 2011.