Oh boy. We are now well accustomed to defence projects running into difficulties involving long delays, large cost increases and capability reductions. But the interminable saga of the BA's AFVs seems to be well on the way to breaking all records.

It seems to be impossible simply to buy a proven vehicle and systems off the shelf (MOTS, I think it's called). They can't resist fiddling with the specification, and then look surprised as the project balloons out of control.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Boxer, since we have an unusual opportunity created by the fact that the UK withdrew from membership of the consortium years ago, and therefore had no opportunity to foul up its development. I'm not up to speed with how that project is going, but I hope that they are limited to just buying the thing.

Well - on one side, you get the MoD with its usual shenanigans. On the other, the fact that many companies these days are managed by accountants that expel the engineer corps because is too expensive, let's sub-contract for the cheapest price. also, QC is for losers (and expensive). just look at Boeing, for a good example.

When you add both cases (MoD and these types of companies) suddenly is easy to understand so many problems.

As far as I know, neither. The weight reduction was for Pizzaro to meet the Ajax requirement, i.e. the existing design had to be modified to meet the tender requirements.

COTS; Commercial Off The  Shelf.

I have also seen MOTS, for Military Off The Shelf.

Thanks for the info!

Another slightly ridiculous use of MOTS is for 'Modified Off The Shelf', although more specifically for software development - a good example of an oxymoron! It is also an example of an acronym meaning something different, dependent upon which project you are working on.

The software design syllabus I teach refers to MOTS as modified off the shelf which bugs me no end.

Worse is that it refers to COTS as customised off the shelf. FFS people.

Believe me, I understand the frustration.  Years ago I worked in a building that housed numerous US Government agencies.  Each had its own set of acronyms, many of which used the same letters meaning different things (DOD seemed particularly popular, for some reason).  I could almost swear that the motto was "All acronyms, all the time."   At least it provided some entertainment since my coworkers and I spent a fair amount of time coming up with entertaining or off-color phrases to match the acronyms' letters.

No further progress, it seems: https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/07/01/impacts-of-noise-result-in-suspension-of-ajax-vehicle-trials/