The Whitehall spending watchdog says a shortage of skilled workers is hampering the Department of Defense’s ability to develop new digital technologies.
Over the next decade, the ministry expects to spend 11.7 billion pounds ($13 billion) to update or replace its digital systems as part of a “fundamental reset” to enable it to keep pace with potential adversaries.
The initiative aims to transform the use of technology by the armed forces so that they can seamlessly share and utilize data in military operations on land, air, sea and space, and online.
However, the National Audit Office said the ministry was struggling to recruit and retain the skilled staff it needed – in part because it couldn’t match the salaries offered by the private sector.
“Technologists view the Department of Defense as bureaucratic and the recruitment process – including obtaining security clearances – is too lengthy,” it said.
“The shortage of technical skills is affecting the implementation of individual projects and strategies.”
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The National Audit Office said the programme faced further challenges due to the nature of the ministry’s business, which required the use of technology in harsh environments with limited connectivity, such as at sea.
The ministry has three security classifications – official, secret and above secret – which sometimes require separate digital systems, adding to the complexity.
Commons Public Accounts chairwoman Meg Hillier said the ministry needed to address “very familiar delivery risks” if the scheme was to succeed.
“The Department of Defense is not alone in facing these challenges, but it urgently needs a realistic plan if its armed forces are to equip the modern battlefield,” she said.
Updated: October 18, 2022 at 11:01 pm