Thread by @FTusa284

Data drop from the MoD: Ajax Scout has now cost the UK £3.47bn, and not a single workable vehicle is in service, and there is little sign that this will happen. @nicholadrummond @grantturnbull_ @AndrewJGWhite @AlexLuck9 @CommonsDefence @CommonsPAC @larisamlbrown @Kate_ForcesNews

Yes, that's right: £3.47bn with nothing to show for it, and little sign that there will be any result any time soon. Over the past 3 budget years, £1.73bn has been spent, at a time when, it is pretty obvious, that the programme has been in deep doo-doo @thepagey @wavellroom

So, at a time of non-delivery of Ajax, the contractor has received 50% of all outlays on the programme since it kicked off in 2009-10. Simple question: how can these payments continue when there is no delivery of an acceptable product?

It is well worth noting that Lockheed Martin has had to make three financial adjustments for penalty payments and extra expenditure on Warrior CSP - there is no evidence that General Dynamics has had to do similar. Indeed, a PQ about the MoD enforcing damages against GD...

was answered in that there had been no such charges enforced. Again: how ON EARTH can this be happening?

£3.47bn is 64% of the total Demonstration & Manufacture phase budget for Ajax. And. No. Working. Vehicles. Have. Been. Accepted. Into. Service.

Before anyone says, "well, we spent several billions on the carriers before they came into service" - true, but irrelevant. The budget/build profile for, say, a carrier/SSN is different from that of an AFV.

No-one else has spent this level of money on an IFV, over such a length of time, and seen nothing to show for it. And, fine, 14 "Drop 1 unturreted vehicles" have been delivered. Whoppee-Doo! "Delivery" is not in-service.

There are few signs that the turreted vehicles will be suitable for delivery for...well, possibly ever. So, will FY21-22 see ANOTHER £500m+ outlay on Ajax. If so, WHY???