"Yesterday BAE announced profits of 1.48 billion and yet do not seem able to deliver anything much on time or within budget".
While my example doesn't relate to BAeS, there are established precedents whereby the Chief of Defence Procurement upheld decisions to waive contractual obligations or ignore failures to meet these obligations, yet still pay off the contracts in full. And then fork out again to the same company to do it properly. And when they failed, pay them and ..........
It makes my blood boil, especially when the failure left aircraft unsafe. I know it's difficult, and perhaps impossible these days, but I well recall one commercial officer I worked with who, under these circumstances (MoD being shafted) would agree a fair and reasonable price and then invite the company to knock 20% off it if they wanted the job. To be fair however, it's only a certain protected few who routinely stiff us.