The MoD's ambition for its spending programme is to transform the armed forces' use of technology, enabling the MoD to seamlessly share and exploit data in military operations across land, air, sea, space and cyber.
However, the National Audit Office (NAO) said the MoD was struggling to recruit and retain the skilled staff it needed - in part, because it could not match the pay on offer in the private sector.
“Technologists see the MoD as bureaucratic and the hiring process - including getting security clearance - as too lengthy,” the NAO added. “The shortfall of technical skills is affecting the delivery of both individual programmes and the strategy.”
The NAO said the programme faced further challenges due to the nature of the MoD’s business, requiring the use of technology in hostile environments with limited connectivity, such as at sea.
“The MoD is not alone in facing these challenges, but it urgently needs to develop a realistic plan if...