Interesting indeed Squirrel, coming as it does on the day Bumbling Bob has to swing the axe for the first time - provides lots of useful ammunition for any spin doctor justifying cuts, don't you think?
Now I concede that our skills in commercial negotiation and general procurement could do with a bit of tweaking, but you don't suppose the action of the MOD in slowing the 'drumbeat' (not heard that one before, but I love it!) of various projects has anything to do with the Treasury refusing to fund the Armed Forces properly.
No, that can't be it!