I'm not sure how Dan Oakes has managed to identify AIR 9000 as the 'most troubled project'. It isn't even on the list published by the minister on 26 Nov:
26 Nov 2010
Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Defence
MIN36/10
Projects of concern - Update
Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today released an update to the Projects of Concern list.
Project AIR 5418 Phase 1 – the acquisition of Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) – has been added to this list.
This project, approved in 2004, is acquiring JASSM for deployment on F/A-18A/B aircraft to improve aircraft survivability and weapon effectiveness.
The project is running late and risks to capability remain.
In a speech today to the Department of Defence Senior Leadership Group, Mr Smith drew attention to concerns around AIR 5418 project management.
“Government has not been kept properly and fully informed as to the progress with respect to this major project” Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith said “It is essential for Government to be appropriately informed about the delivery of complex and important capabilities so that appropriate steps can be taken to manage issues that emerge in relation to cost, capability or schedule.”
The next major stage in this project is a live firing from an Australian F/A-18A/B in the United States in late 2010 or early 2011. Defence will provide the Government with a full report on the effectiveness of this test to inform the Government’s consideration on the way forward with respect to this project.
Mr Smith said “Defence will ensure that this project now receives additional scrutiny and senior officer oversight in the lead up to the test firing and in the development of subsequent advice to Government.”
This brings the total number of projects placed on the list since 2008 to 18, with six removed – five due to remediation and one due to cancellation.
The Projects of Concern list was established by the Government in 2008 to focus the attention of Defence and industry senior management on remediating listed projects.
This process has been successful in remediating a number of key complex and challenging projects.
Projects are put on the list when, for example, there are significant challenges with scheduling, cost, capability delivery or project management.
The current complete list of projects is below.
CN10: Collins Class Submarine Sustainment and Projects
AIR 5077 Phase 3: ‘Wedgetail’ Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft
SEA 1448 Phase 2B: Anti-Ship Missile Defence radar upgrades for ANZAC Class Frigates
JOINT 2043 Phase 3A: High Frequency Modernisation (HFMOD) – communications and data exchange capability for sea, air and land forces
AIR 5333: ‘Vigilare’ – Aerospace surveillance and command and control system
JOINT 129 Phase 2: Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – airborne surveillance for land forces
LAND 121 Phase 3: ‘Overlander’ replacement field vehicles, trailers and modules for land forces (‘Medium Heavy’ class of vehicles only)
JOINT 2070: Lightweight torpedo replacement for ANZAC and ADELAIDE Class Frigates
AIR 5402: Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft – Air to Air Refuelling Capability
JOINT 2048 Phase 1A: LCM2000 Watercraft for Landing Platform Amphibious ships
AIR 5276 Phase 8B: Electronic Support Measures upgrade for AP-3C Orion aircraft
AIR 5418 Phase 1: Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missiles