The Audit Committee criticizes the Ministry of Defence for extensive delays in equipment acquisitions. The Ministry of Defence faces severe criticism from the Audit Committee due to significant delays in equipment acquisitions. According to a report from the Audit Committee, major equipment acquisitions have been delayed on average by four and a half years. This delay could potentially have serious consequences for the ability of the Defence to carry out its tasks. “The delays can result in periods where the Defence is unable to perform specific tasks or must use worn-out equipment,” the report, released on Monday, states. The criticism covers 20 acquisitions totaling 11 billion Danish kroner in the period 2018-2023. In addition to the delays, it is also unclear whether the acquisitions have been made within the financial frameworks approved by the Danish Parliament’s Finance Committee. Another serious accusation is that in 11 of these acquisitions, the Ministry of Defence did not conduct necessary market surveys.
The Audit Committee uses a scale to assess the severity of the criticism, where sharp criticism is the second most serious. The criticism relates to the latest defense agreement. A new agreement has since been reached, which the Audit Committee will closely monitor. Even in this new agreement, there have already been issues with procurement. For example, the purchase of new artillery from the Israeli company Elbit has led to an additional bill and further delays in implementation. The process underscores the need for more effective management and greater transparency in the Ministry of Defence’s procurement processes. It is crucial that action is taken to avoid similar problems in the future and ensure that equipment acquisitions can be carried out on time and within the financial frameworks.