Hoodie
I would certainly agree with that. But the project initiation, which is what sets the tone, was a disaster. Apache was sold to UK as a simple build to print job. That meant 2 Star jumped at the perceived opportunity to run it on a shoestring. (Same person, same decision on Chinook HC Mk3!). For example, not a single avionic specialist in the team. In about August 1996 word of that got to the Sea King ASaC project manager and he asked to see the proposed Appendix A (to the Aircraft Spec). He pointed out all the obsolescent (and even obsolete) kit the US was proposing to offload on us, removed from their old variants following upgrade. For example, someone had agreed to buy a VHF radio that the RN had struggled to support for 15 years with a policy of "repair by cannibalisation", and were actively replacing in an ongoing project, in the same Directorate. Talk about lack of communication. That's a hell of a red flag. That embarrassed 2 Star into resourcing it better, and the contract had to be changed to "Air Vehicle" instead of "Aircraft", while the avionic component (quite important in Apache) started over again. Much of the programme then proceeded well, but due to firefighting rather than good planning. But it was too late to overturn the PFI nonsense.
Frostchamber. Quite right. What made it a success? The right people. The RN officer who led was superb. He was my boss a couple of years later. You learn more in a week from guys like that than in a 2 year tour in most jobs.