The amount of useless kit we have turn up is comical, but a hideous waste of money. One of the prime examples was a tripod required to mount a peice of test equiptment, cost the RAF £10,000
, googling the part number revealed an IDENTICAL item for £299.99
.. Who authorises these things?
Someone probably insisted it went through a standard MOD validation & verification process for which the original manufacturer wasn't prepared to pick up the tab (because of the relatively small number of sales the MOD would order). There would be an outcry if the tripod was bought, went through all the rigmarole of being added to the stores system and then repeatedly failed in service. You can't have your cake and eat it.