Expert Witness Journal Issue 63 October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 113
confusion over roles. While the MoD was responsible
for specifying and accepting vehicles, GDLS-UK was
accountable for design and manufacture. When problems arose, disputes emerged over who was responsible for remediation. The lack of clear, shared
ownership of risk and safety assurance directly
contributed to delays and hazards.
disciplined, expert risk management, defined outcomes, and a shared culture of accountability. By embedding specialist assurance from the outset, future
programmes can deliver real value for the Armed
Forces and the taxpayer.
*Please note all information for this article has been
sourced from the public domain and mainly the National Audit Office (NAO) report The Ajax Programme, 11 March 2022, ISBN: 9781786044198. No
other sources have been used.
Another key issue was scheduling over-optimism. The
NAO found that the original schedule was unrealistic,
with the design and manufacturing phase extending
to nearly eight years- far beyond the three years initially expected. Most of the programme’s contingency
was consumed early, leaving little room to respond to
emergent problems.
Author
Richard Bowen
Senior Consultant
richard.bowen@finch-consulting.com
Richard is an accomplished Senior Consultant at
Finch Consulting, bringing over two decades of international expertise in Health, Safety, and Environment
leadership in high-hazard industries including Oil and
Gas, Defence and Manufacturing.
These failures are not unique to Ajax,
they are emblematic of the risks in any high-value,
high-complexity defence procurement.
What is required is not simply more oversight, but the
right kind of expertise that is embedded early and
throughout the project lifecycle.
Associated People
The Ajax Programme: Lessons in Risk and the Value
of Expert Assurance
The Role of Expert Assurance in Defence
Procurement
Finch Consulting brings deep experience in
engineering risk management, safety assurance, and
legal compliance across high-hazard sectors, including defence. Our consultants are Subject Matter Experts and former board-level executives from defence
contractors, combining technical knowledge with
practical, organisational insight. This enables Finch to
bridge the gap between ambitious requirements and
safe, deliverable outcomes.
Eur Ing Dr Rober t Brown
Char tered Electrical Engineer
One key lesson from the Ajax project is the risk of excessive requirements and unclear standards. It highlighted the importance of early and transparent user
engagement, modular engineering, balancing ambition with realism, and enforcing stronger contractual
oversight. Finch’s experience in translating complex
regulations into clear, actionable guidance and specifications has helped our clients streamline compliance
while maintaining operational readiness.
BEng (Hons), PhD, CEng, MIET, IntPE (UK), Char tered Electrical Engineer
Dr Rober t E Brown is an exper t witness in the fields of electrical,
electronic and control engineering.
Achieving a first class honours degree (BEng), in Electronic Systems
and Control Engineering, a Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) in Electrical
Engineering, and attaining Char tered Electrical Engineer status, Dr Brown has
worked extensively within the manufacturing, utility and construction sectors,
as a consultant engineer with many large blue chip organisations and well
Finch’s expertise spans the entire system lifecycle,
from concept to decommissioning. Our consultants
ensure that risk and safety are considered from the
outset, not added as afterthoughts. This includes support for HAZID and HAZOP studies, machinery and
equipment compliance, and development of robust
safety management systems.
as small OME and star t-up companies.
Rober t, as he likes to called, is an acclaimed exper t in the operation and
design of electrical fault protection systems. He also has extensive experience
in the operation, design, manufacture and testing of electrical and electronic
control systems for domestic and industrial environments.
Rober t continues to work as a consultant engineer and researcher
whilst in the main, under takes to help in litigation and insurance claims
where an understanding of electrical circumstances and phenomena
The Ajax case also highlights the dangers of
fragmented supply chains. Finch helps strengthen
supply chain resilience through supplier assessments,
integration of safety requirements into contracts, and
support for dispute resolution. Our background as expert witnesses equip us to assist clients in both avoiding and navigating complex disagreements like those
seen in Ajax.
are sought for settlement.
Contact: Eur Ing Dr Robert E Brown
Tel: +44 (0) 1777 709175
Mobile: +44 (0) 7976 250624
Alternate Email: rober t.brown@frasergeorge.com
Website: www.rober tbrown.uk.com
Alternate Website: www.frasergeorge.com
Address: Suite 5, Newcastle House, 37 Bridgegate,
Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7UX
Area of work: Nationwide and International
The Ajax programme’s difficulties are a reminder that
in complex, high-stakes defence projects, success depends on more than technical innovation, it requires
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
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Email: rober tbrown@rober tbrown.uk.com
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2025
