2.11 Delaying the entry into service of new capabilities can mean the Department has to maintain equipment that is ageing, and in some cases becoming obsolete. For example, the Protector unmanned aerial vehicle was originally intended to enter service in 2018 to coincide with retirement of the Reaper predecessor capability. The Department's forecast date for initial operating capability (IOC) was July 2021 by the time the decision was taken to delay the programme because of budgetary pressures.20 IOC is now expected in November 2023, requiring extension of Reaper at an additional cost of £50 million. In addition, delays in the preliminary stages of the Type 26 frigate, and an acceptance of a more realistic timetable for the Type 31e Frigate as part of the competition process, mean that the first ships of each class are forecast to start to enter service in 2026 and 2027 respectively. This requires the predecessor Type 23 to undergo upgrade work to stay in service until the new ships are available.
Figure 5 Forecast delays for entry into service across the Ministry of Defence's major equipment programmes since going on contract The Ministry of Defence (the Department) faces cumulative forecast net delays of 254 months across 13 of its programmes
Notes 1 The Boxer armoured vehicle programme team reported in March 2021 that it forecasts achieving initial operating capability 14 months sooner than it forecasted at the time of going on contract. 2 The Type 26 programme team reported in March 2021 that it forecasts achieving the in-service date for ship one 12 months sooner than forecast at the time of going on contract. 3 In March 2021, the government announced in the Integrated Review that it had cancelled the Warrior armoured vehicle upgrade programme. Data reflect the Department's assumptions prior to cancellation. 4 The following programmes we examined are not yet under contract, or have gone on contract during 2021: Challenger 3 tank; Future Maritime Support Programme; and Fleet Solid Support ships. The Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative programme is a research and development programme, so does not have comparable parameters to the other programmes we examined. 5 Comparable data for this analysis was unavailable for the Department's New Style of IT (Deployed) and Complex Weapons programmes and Morpheus project. Source: National Audit Office analysis of Ministry of Defence document |
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20 IOC is the minimum level at which the capability or service is usefully deployable.