Showing 22 of 22 programmes.
RedLand
Armour MBT (Challenger 3)
Rebuilds 148 Challenger 2 tanks into Challenger 3, with a new gun, armour and sights. It is the entirety of Britain’s future main battle tank fleet.
Government’s own explanation: Downgraded to Red this year. The department cites forecast delays and risk to both initial and full operating capability arising from the prime contractor, and trials in the demonstration phase affecting training.
RedLand
Armoured Cavalry (Ajax)
A family of tracked reconnaissance vehicles for the Army, first contracted in 2014.
RedDigital
New Style of IT (Deployed) — OpNET
The deployed military IT network: the computing and communications that go with forces on operations, rather than sitting in offices.
Government’s own explanation: The department records that the programme end date moved from 31 March 2029 to 30 April 2030, and that it is currently operating twelve months behind schedule.
RedAirDepartment’s own assessment
SPEAR Capability 3
A precision air-launched missile intended to be carried by the F-35B.
Whole-life cost
Not published
Originally due
Not published
Government’s own explanation: Compounded delays requiring a full re-baseline, and a dependency on the reprofiled F-35B integration timeline. No independent delivery-confidence rating was published this year — the Red shown is the Senior Responsible Owner’s own assessment.
RedAirDepartment’s own assessment
E-7 Wedgetail
Airborne early warning aircraft — the radar picture that lets the RAF see and direct air operations. The order was cut from five aircraft to three.
Originally due
Not published
RedAirDepartment’s own assessment
Protector
Replaces the Reaper drone fleet with an aircraft certified to fly in ordinary civilian airspace.
Originally due
Not published
RedSeaDepartment’s own assessment
Mine Hunting Capability
Replaces crewed minehunter ships with autonomous systems that clear sea mines without putting a crew over them.
Whole-life cost
Not published
Originally due
Not published
RedSea
Type 31 Frigate
Five general-purpose frigates, built at Rosyth, intended as the cheaper half of a two-tier surface fleet alongside Type 26.
Whole-life cost
Not published
Originally due
Not published
RedNuclearDepartment’s own assessment
Submarine Dismantling
Disposing of retired nuclear submarines, which are currently stored afloat — some for over thirty years.
Government’s own explanation: End date moved out from 31 March 2027 to 31 October 2028.
RedNuclear
Submarine Waterfront Infrastructure Future
The docks, berths and support facilities the submarine fleet needs to be maintained and rearmed.
Originally due
Not published
RedDigital
Skynet 6
Military satellite communications — the link that keeps deployed forces connected to the UK.
Whole-life cost
Not published
Originally due
Not published
RedAir
Future Combat Air System (GCAP)
The next-generation combat aircraft being developed with Italy and Japan to replace Typhoon.
Whole-life cost
Not published
Originally due
Not published
AmberNuclear
SSN-AUKUS
The next class of nuclear-powered attack submarine, built with Australia and the United States.
Whole-life cost
Not published
Originally due
Not published
Government’s own explanation: Rating unchanged. The department cites supplier infrastructure and tier-one supply chain capacity, and a shortfall in engineering resource for design assurance.
AmberOtherDepartment’s own assessment
Armed Forces Recruiting Programme
Replaces the three services’ separate recruitment systems with a single tri-service pipeline — the programme meant to fix the staffing problem above.
Originally due
Not published
AmberNuclearDepartment’s own assessment
Astute Boats 1-7
The current class of nuclear-powered attack submarines, begun in 1997.
Originally due
Not published
AmberSeaDepartment’s own assessment
Type 26 Global Combat Ship
Eight anti-submarine frigates built on the Clyde, also sold to Australia and Canada.
Whole-life cost
Not published
Originally due
Not published
AmberSeaDepartment’s own assessment
Naval Support Integrated Global Network
The contracted support arrangement that keeps Royal Navy ships maintained and supplied worldwide.
Originally due
Not published
AmberOtherDepartment’s own assessment
Defence Estate Optimisation
Closing and consolidating military sites, and reinvesting in the ones that remain.
Originally due
Not published
AmberOther
Collective Training Transformation
Rebuilds how units train together, including simulation, under a single long-term contract.
Government’s own explanation: End date moved from 31 March 2032 to 11 June 2041 after the award of a fifteen-year contract slipped by around three months.
GreenAirDepartment’s own assessment
Lightning (F-35)
Britain’s F-35B fleet, flown from the two aircraft carriers and from land.
Whole-life cost
Not published
Originally due
Not published
GreenDigital
MODNET Evolve
The MOD’s everyday office IT — laptops, email and desktop systems for staff.
Originally due
Not published
Not ratedNuclearRating withheld
Dreadnought
The four submarines that will carry the UK’s nuclear deterrent from the 2030s.
Whole-life cost
Not published
Originally due
Not published
Government’s own explanation: Rating, dates and cost are all withheld under national security exemptions. This is the largest single defence programme, and the public data does not say how it is going.
These are the government’s own ratings, not ours. A delivery-confidence assessment reflects the department’s judgement of whether a programme will be delivered on time, on budget and to specification. Red means successful delivery appears unachievable on the current plan — it does not mean the equipment will never arrive, and ratings move in both directions between years.
Where a card is marked Department’s own assessment, no independent delivery-confidence rating was published for that programme and the rating shown is the Senior Responsible Owner’s. It is still the government’s own view, but it is self-assessed rather than independently assessed.
Source: NISTA, Major Projects Annual Report 2025-26 · Ratings as at 31 March 2026