LONDON, July 28 (UPI) -- British lawmakers are angry over delays in vital military equipment projects because of cost overruns of more than $5.5 billion.
A committee in the House of Commons, in a blistering report, described as "woeful" the Ministry of Defense's attempts to improve procurement, the Telegraph reported Wednesday.
The armed forces face "unacceptable" cuts, cancellations and delays in vital equipment projects because of cost overruns of more than $5.5 billion in the past year alone, the committee report said Tuesday. And such problems are "endemic" and "systemic."
For example, the delivery of the second batch of Eurofighter aircraft remains uncertain, particularly troubling since cutbacks have deprived Britain of all Jaguar ground attack aircraft, 14 Royal Navy vessels, four Army battalions and more than 20,000 jobs.
The defense ministry had been far too optimistic in announcing in-service dates for new equipment, including aircraft carriers and Future Rapid Effects System armoured vehicles, the report said.
