MOD struggling to recruit digital specialists, watchdog warns
The Ministry of Defence's ability to exploit new digital technologies is being hampered by a shortage of skilled staff, the Whitehall spending watchdog has warned.
The MOD is expecting to spend £11.7bn over the course of a decade updating or replacing its digital systems as part of a "fundamental reset" to enable it to keep pace with potential adversaries.
The aim of the programme is to transform the Armed Forces' use of technology so that they can seamlessly share and exploit data in military operations across land, air, sea, space and cyber.
However, the National Audit Office (NAO) said the MOD was struggling to recruit and retain the skilled staff it needed – in part because it could not match the pay on offer in the private sector.
"Technologists see the MOD as bureaucratic and the hiring process – including getting security clearance – as too lengthy," it added.
"The shortfall of technical skills is affecting the delivery of both individual programmes and the strategy."
The NAO said the programme faced further challenges due to the nature of the MOD's business, requiring the use of technology in hostile environments with limited connectivity, such as at sea.
The MOD has three security classifications – Official, Secret, and Above Secret – which sometimes require separate digital systems, adding to the complexity.
Watch: 'Consistent' cyber threats from Russia and China guide new UK strategy.
Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said the MOD needed to address "the all-too-familiar delivery risks" if the programme is to succeed.
"The MOD is not alone in facing these challenges, but it urgently needs to develop a realistic plan if its armed forces are to be equipped for the modern battlefield," she said.
An MOD spokesperson said: "Exploiting digital capabilities and data is fundamental to our success in modern military operations and to the effective running of defence.
"As the National Audit Office has recognised, defence has a strong digital strategy and we are making good progress in implementing it.
"We acknowledge the report's recommendations, including that we need a clear overall plan to strengthen delivery, which we are taking immediate action to implement.
"Digital transformation is a priority for the department, and the report's insights and recommendations will help us to realise our ambitions."
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