Government remains the essence of silo mentality. So defence projects rarely join up. There would be no sound business case for much defence procurement if the expected performance and cost were analysed properly. Is there an expectation that if they cost the work properly it will not be funded, perhaps?
Jeff Bulled, Lidlington, Bedfordshire
In simple terms, vested interests. Break the cycle of military, Ministry of Defence, industry, and you will have a better procurement system!
Stephen Prior, London
The armed forces are run by public-school boys – do Eton or Harrow teach engineering? It’s all Latin, Greek mythology and ancient Roman history. So it is not surprising they get the specification and finances wrong. Oh, and where were our political leaders educated?
Alan Cook, Braintree
If the government had listened to the people who are going to use the planes and the people who are making the aircraft carriers they would have made the right decisions in the first place. The navy surely know what they need. The penny pinchers in the civil service have no idea and make decisions purely on cost now, not in the future.
John Killip, Aylesbury
Perhaps there are too many high flyers doing aerial combat in the boardroom, some of whom should be permanently grounded and shown the departure lounge. Reduce the amount of formal engagements that require defence involvement – fewer requirements may mean better chances of getting it right!
Paul Harper, Isle of Man
Indecisiveness and lack of will-power. They keep changing their minds about what they want, and when they finally do settle on something they lack the will-power to see it through.
Ben Chivers, Bristol
Big projects and politicians rarely mix well. Projects need steadfast consistency to deliver on time and in budget. Elected politicians cannot, by the nature of their life and environment, deliver constancy.
Matthew Waterhouse, Calveley, Cheshire
There are not enough engineers within government to appreciate the negative effects of change. They may see the pros and cons of the different options, but not the implications of change itself.
Gary Wood, East Kilbride
The changing duty scenarios for military equipment seem to outpace the rate at which we can build it! Hence the downstream design changes that add cost. Spending more at the outset on accelerating design could reduce overall cost and improve on-time delivery.
Andrew Hares, Worcester
The procurement staff are incapable of engaging their stakeholders and getting clarity of requirements. The result is over-specification that cannot be delivered – the civil servants need to learn from the private sector.
Mike Davies, Wells, Somerset
I’m not a fan of most coalition decisions but, in fairness, there do appear to be valid technical/cost reasons for the switch from the F35-C back to the F35-B jump-jet variant. Not so much a U-turn, but a strategic decision following a design review, you would hope!
Tony Scrivens, Albrighton, Shropshire
Defence contracts probably run late and over budget because politicians are unable to accept a design freeze. Defence contracts have long programmes, during which the world changes. To improve procurement one needs a clear and unchanging brief – probably impossible.
Chris Jones, Hilton, Derby
Imagine a project manager in the private sector delivering late, over cost and under quality. Until government departments are made to face the consequences of their project management, the situation will not improve.
Ash Dhir, Beverley, East Riding
With party politics sitting between armed forces’ requirements and the civilian procurement executive of MoD, there are bound to be conflicts of interest. Surely if politicians were largely removed from the triangle of procurement, except to vote the money, greater responsiveness and control should ensue.
Barry Kempster, West Midlands
Interference from the Treasury is the real issue. Constant review and cost saving exercises actually means we, the taxpayers, spend even more and get a less capable product. We suffer from short-sightedness.
Paul Saunders, London
Defence contracts run late and over budget because of the continued changing environment of warfare. To improve defence procurement MoD and industry need to work together to provide the right solution.
Anonymous, name and address supplied
I really don’t know, stuff happens. I bought an unsatisfactory lawn mower the other day – not as catastrophic as the wrong aircraft or launching catapult but it ruined my week.
Neil Blair, Colne, Lancashire