Ajax review highlights 'systemic, cultural and institutional problems' at MOD, defence minister says
A review of the troubled Ajax armoured vehicle programme highlighted a "number of systemic, cultural and institutional problems" at the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Government has said.
Defence minister James Cartlidge said these included a "reticence" to raise and, "occasionally" by senior officials, to listen to "genuine problems" in a timely, evidenced manner.
He added that the lessons learned review, led by Clive Sheldon KC, did not see any evidence of misconduct and nothing that would justify any disciplinary action.
Originally intended to enter service in 2017, the £5.5bn Ajax project has been repeatedly delayed, with problems including noise and vibration issues, which meant some soldiers being medically discharged from service because of hearing loss during trials.
However, Mr Cartlidge has said that the project "really has turned the corner" as he noted training in a range of Ajax vehicles took place on Salisbury Plain this week.
The goal is for 589 fully operational vehicles by 2029, the minister added.
'The remedies are in place'
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace attended Ajax Growth Reliability Trials in Bovington in Dorset in February.
Better seat cushions and ear defenders were among the improvements being hailed by Mr Wallace as "turning the corner" for the £5.5bn programme.
Speaking to Forces News in Bovington, he said: "I inherited a troubled programme, I was determined 'I'm going to put this right'.
"Myself and my procurement ministers have been literally looking at it every week. I get a weekly report.
"It went through its first user trials before Christmas. As you can see today, we think the remedies are in place," he added.
'A number of systemic, cultural and institutional problems'
Making a statement on the review, Mr Cartlidge said it would enable them to better understand how the MOD can "improve the governance, culture and leadership of our major programmes".
He said: "The resulting report makes for difficult reading, highlighting a number of systemic, cultural and institutional problems across several areas of the department.
"These problems include fragmented relationships and the conflicting priorities of the senior responsible owner – or SRO – role. It also points to a reticence to raise, and occasionally by seniors to listen to, genuine problems, in a timely, evidenced manner.
"Now, we accept these findings and most of Mr Sheldon's 24 formal recommendations, with 15 accepted and nine accepted in principle."
"Crucially, the review did not find that either ministers or Parliament were misled," Mr Cartlidge added.
"Equally, the review team did not see any evidence of misconduct by any individual, let alone gross misconduct, and nothing that would justify any disciplinary action.
"It is, though, true that many of the behaviours highlighted in the report are far from ideal but, in many cases, they have already been recognised and acted on, both specifically on the armoured cavalry programme as well as across the department."
Mr Cartlidge said transparency has improved since the period of the report, including detailed updates on the Ajax programme.
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