Defence chief gets £120,000 BONUS despite spending BILLIONS on tanks that can’t be used because they deafen soldiers
- Sir Simon Bollom, 61, oversaw £5.5billion in spending on infamous Ajax tanks
- The ‘dud’ armoured vehicle’s defects caused injuries in a staggering 310 soldiers
- Sir Simon’s department manages all purchases of armed forces’ ships, submarines and aircrafts
A defence chief accused of squandering billions of pounds on faulty tanks has received a £120,000 bonus on top of his £280,000 salary.
Sir Simon Bollom, 61, head of defence equipment and support at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), oversaw £5.5billion in spending on the infamous Ajax tanks, which could not be used after they were found to deafen soldiers.
Ex-RAF officer Sir Simon, whose organisation purchases all the armed forces’ ships, submarines and aircrafts, was also paid £300,000 last year, reported the Daily Star on Sunday.
It comes after House of Commons watchdog the Public Accounts Committee branded the MoD department as ‘broken’ and said the Bristol-based team ‘continually fails to learn from his mistakes.’
Colonel Richard Kemp, an ex-infantry Commander, told the paper: ‘Bonuses for public sector employees in the MoD should only be given out sparingly, especially as they’re usually reserved for high-level civil servants.
‘They should only be used to recognise contributions above and beyond the contractual remit of the individual.
Sir Simon Bollom (pictured) , 61, head of defence equipment and support at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), oversaw £5.5billion in spending on the infamous Ajax tanks, which could not be used after they were found to deafen soldiers
‘Given the abysmal failure of Ajax, it seems that a bonus for the person responsible might be over-generous use of taxpayers’ funds.’
Figures from the MoD show how Sir Simon has been paid £120,000 in bonuses since 2018.
They were signed off by MoD bosses despite 13 of the largest projects running behind by a cumulative total of 21 years.
The list of delays includes the Ajax tanks, which must now be re-desinged due to their excessive noise and vibration.
An MoD spokesman told Daily Star on Sunday: ‘Performance-related payments are based on meeting a number of challenging targets alongside assessment from the DE&S Board CHair and MoD Permanent Secretary.’
Mail Online revealed in September how soldiers who suffered hearing loss and joint pain in the Army’s crisis-hit Ajax vehicles (pictured) could claim hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation, according to lawyers
Mail Online has contacted the MoD for comment.
A staggering 310 soldiers have been urged to seek medical attention after testing the ‘dud’ Ajax tanks.
The injuries were caused by the noise of its engine and vibrations during trials of the multi-billion pound scheme.
Mail Online revealed in September how soldiers who suffered hearing loss and joint pain in the Army’s crisis-hit vehicles could claim hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation, according to lawyers.
They claimed the MoD could be forced to pay the huge bills if troops can prove they have lost out on lengthy careers.
Ajax also struggled to fire accurately on the move and to reverse over obstacles – although there has been progress in these areas according to defence officials.
Trials of the vehicle, which were paused earlier this year, have resumed with manufacturers General Dynamics providing test drivers.
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