Aircraft

Delays in expected deliveries of key equipment to the UK armed forces have lengthened, with the Ministry of Defence's biggest 20 procurement projects now a total of 38 months behind schedule, compared with 33 months a year ago.

According to the annual report by independent government financial watchdog the National Audit Office, five programmes fell a total of 40 months behind schedule in 2005-6, none of them aircraft.

A further eight avoided slippage, including the BAE Systems MRA4 Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft and Thales Watchkeeper unmanned air system, while two gained a month's ground each.

While the Airbus Military A400M transport is reported to have remained on schedule, the programme's latest troubles had not been confirmed when the snapshot was taken in April.

Deliveries to launch customer France are likely to be up to a year late, and the MoD says it is waiting to find out what knock-on effect this will have to its order for 25 aircraft.

The current total forecast cost for the 20 projects is £28 billion ($58 billion), £2.5 billion ahead of budget when the main investment decision was taken.

The MoD expects 10 projects to deliver within their most likely budgeted cost. However, there are significant cost overruns on the Type 45 Destroyer and Astute Class submarine.

Baroness Taylor, minister for defence equipment and support, says the NAO report recognises that the MoD is "moving in the right direction to keep costs down and minimise delays", adding that: "The size and complexity of these equipment programmes with their huge challenges in delivery and technology must not be underestimated."