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The National Infrastructure & Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 24-25, published this year, highlighted the situation of many military projects. Each programme is given a Green, Amber, or Red grading.
Each colour determines - as of the time when the grades were finalised - if the scheme is likely to be completed on time and to its allocated financial budget. Some programmes are classed as exempt for national security reasons.
Green means the project is likely to be completed on time and to budget. The Amber Category means that successful delivery is feasible, but significant issues exist which require managed attention and action. Problems are considered resolvable if they are addressed promptly.
The Red Category means that a programme has major issues over schedule, budgets, and quality - usually meaning that a scheme’s successful delivery needs re-scoping.
Responding to several projects being given Amber or Red grades, defence minister Luke Pollard said in a parliamentary written question: “Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle.
“An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in order to increase the likelihood of being able to deliver to approved time, performance and cost. The National Armaments Director holds all the levers of procurement, enabling the necessary interventions to be applied in support of programmes assessed as Red.”
Out of a total of 45 MoD projects spread across the Royal Navy, Army, and RAF, three were categorised as three Green, 27 Amber, and 10 Red. This list includes the 17 programmes which bring new capabilities to the Royal Navy, or projects which affect capabilities such as the F-35 fighter jets.
13. Fleet Solid Support Ship - Amber
Auxiliary Shipping to provide stores, ammunition and food sustainment to Naval Forces at Sea. The aim is to revitalise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary fleet, replacing aging vessels. An end date of 2033 has been given. | Royal Navy/MoD Crown Copyright
14. F-35 Lightning Programme - Amber
F-35B Lightning is a key element of Combat Air - a fifth Generation combat air vehicle with advanced sensors, mission systems and low observable technology. The F-35B provides real strategic opportunity and its impressive capability has already been demonstrated and is recognised. It is jointly operated by the RAF and Royal Navy from both land and sea, with a main operating base at RAF Marham which currently houses 617 Squadron and 207 Squadron, the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). The Lightning Force growth through delivering the second squadron, 809 Naval Air Squadron at RAF Marham, is a key dependency for the successful delivery of a critical Defence milestone of Carrier Strike capability. | UK MOD Crown copyright
15. Mine hunting capability - Red
To provide an agile, interoperable, and survivable capability using emerging Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS) that enables strategic, operational, and tactical freedom of manoeuvre and exploitation of the battle space in order to assure and sustain the delivery of Maritime Force Projection and Maritime Security capabilities at the time and place of the UK’s choosing across the range of Standing Commitments and Operations, by defeating static underwater threats. The aim of Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) is to deliver a managed transition from current Mine Counter Measures Vessels (MCMV) to future MAS capabilities whilst sustaining and, where possible, improving capability delivery to provide military effect in accordance with extant Policy assumptions. The pace and nature of change is dictated by out-of-service dates for current MCMVs, by affordability issues, and by recognised capability shortfalls measured against an evolving requirement and threat. The intention is to transform current Mine Counter Measures thinking in order to enable these capabilities to be deployed differently, and more economically and effectively. Key aims of the programme are to provide the safe operational deployment and return of the Continuous At Sea Deterrent and to deliver capability ‘in stride’ with a Maritime Task Group. | The News
16. Spearcap 3 - Red
This programme aims to achieve delivery and integration of Spear Cap 3, which will deliver the principal air-to-ground weapon for UK F-35 and is critical to the aircraft's Attack and Control of the Air capabilities in contested environments. These fighter jets are the backbone of Carrier Strike Group deployments. | AS1 Amber Mayall RAF