The UK's defence procurement practices are delivering equipment to the armed forces, but too often at a greater cost and later than expected, says the UK's National Audit Office (NAO).
The NAO's annual Major Projects Report outlined a £3 billion ($5.4 billion) cost overrun to 18 leading defence projects in the 12 months ending 31 March 2003, with these falling an average of 18 months behind schedule.
Four projects, including the MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missile, BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft and the Eurofighter Typhoon were largely to blame. All three suffered flight-test delays in the study period, and BAE and the Ministry of Defence shared a £1 billion cost increase on Nimrod.
Source: Flight International
