Britain's Ajax armoured-vehicle difficulties are compared with Australia's Land 400 program. Ajax's problems grew from decisions across several governments and bureaucratic layers, rather than from one purchaser. Land 400 appears comparatively healthy even to an Australian observer usually critical of defence acquisition. Commonwealth cooperation therefore benefits from candid study of successful and failed programs as well as shared hardware.
Notable Point · 46:26-48:42
Ajax and Land 400 show why allies should compare procurement lessons
Britain's troubled Ajax program and Australia's better-regarded Land 400 effort illustrate the value of learning across allied acquisition systems.