SEA VENOM
MoD · MOD_0138_2122-Q1 · Last reported March 2025
Department page: Ministry of Defence
| Data as at | Rating | End date | Whole-life cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2024 | Amber (the department's own assessment) | 21 December 2029 | Exempt under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests) - Commercial interests. |
| March 2025 | Green (the department's own assessment) | 21 December 2029 | Section 43 - Commercial interests |
Each year’s cost is shown with its price basis. Costs are not compared between years: the March 2024 and March 2025 reports state no price basis, and from March 2026 costs are in 2024/25 prices.
The department’s commentary
This is the department’s own commentary. It may use different prices from the table above, so its figures may not match.
March 2025
Rating: Compared to financial year 23/24-Q4, the Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 24/25-Q4 increased from AMBER to GREEN. This is primarily due to the following factors. The Delivery Confidence Assessment has increased to Green against the programme's re-baselined schedule and costs. The first live firing of the weapon from the Wildcat helicopter was completed successfully in October 2024 and the capability will be deployed operationally on Carrier Strike Group 2025.
Schedule: Compared to financial year 23/24-Q4, the project's end-date at 24/25-Q4 remained at 21/12/2029. This is primarily due to the following factors. The programme end date has been maintained.
Cost: Section 43 - Commercial interests
Source: NISTA Annual Report 2024-25 (data)
March 2024
Rating: Compared to financial year 22/23-Q4, the Senior Responsible Owner's Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 23/24-Q4 remained at Amber. This is primarily due to the following factors. The Programme remains operational within the rebaselined schedule and costs. The Delivery Confidence Assessment of AMBER was endorsed by an IPA Review in July 2023. Positive progress is being made towards the first live firing of the weapon from the Wildcat helicopter but a number of integration risks need to be resolved before the assessment could improve to Green.
Schedule: Compared to financial year 22/23-Q4, the project's end-date at 23/24-Q4 decreased from 2047-12-31 to 2029-12-21. This is primarily due to the following factors. The programme end date was previously aligned with the Wildcat helicopter's planned out of service date in 2045 but has now been defined as the point at which the military capability has been delivered to the Royal Navy and the programme team has disbanded.
Cost: Exempt under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests) - Commercial interests.
Source: IPA Annual Report 2023-24 (data)
Names, figures, dates, ratings and commentary are as the department reported them. Where a rating, cost or date is withheld, the file’s wording is shown. Every major project →