UK MoD “getting a grip” of budgets as three UK air programmes slip into the red
The E-7 Wedgetail is being manufactured for the UK by Boeing. (Photo: Boeing)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has rebutted a report, published by the UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority, that stated the delivery status of three large scale air programmes – the E-7 Wedgetail, the Protector RG Mk1 and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) – was “unachievable”.
The report, published on 17 January 2025, was compiled using data from between 2023 to March 2024. It noted that the downgrading of the programmes from an ‘amber’ to a ‘red’ categorisation signified “major issues with project definition, schedule, budget, quality and/or benefits delivery, which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable”.
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
Attack drones versus CUAS – the future of warfare or just another trend?
Demand signals for counter-drone technology are strong and the market is becoming crowded, but is this really the beginning of a new phase of warfare or will commentators be talking about something else 10 years from now?
-
The 2020s: a decade of UAV spending growth
Total annual drone spending has increased nearly sixfold since the start of the decade, from $2.9 billion in 2020 to $16.3 billion in 2028, with Europe leading the rise.
-
USAF opens B-52 upgrade to new companies as major programmes fall behind schedule
The US Air Force is seeking additional contractors to support communications upgrades for the B-52, while multiple Stratofortress modernisation programmes continue to experience delays, cost growth and technical challenges.