I did some work for DII(f) about a year ago as an EDS contractor. I left the project mainy because it just wasn't being managed. Here's my 2p worth:
1. MOD asks eds 'can you provide X in Y timescale?
2. EDS (and the rest of ATLAS) says yes without understanding what is reqiuied.
3. Atlas tries to build X in Y time, but can't, so they deliver waht they've got.
4. MOD says 'Actually we wanted Z not X'
5. go to 2 and repeat.
The suits in whitehall and the guy in a landrover in Iraq need different things, but DII(f) is one size, fits no-one.
Sound familiar?