Defence projects such as the troubled air warfare destroyers continue to run late, with the top 30 programs now a total of 93 years behind schedule.
That's up from last year, when the top 29 projects were running almost 80 years behind. The average is 38 months a project.
On the plus side, there's more confidence the expected level of capability will be delivered. That stands at 96 per cent in 2013-14, which is up from 95 per cent in 2012-13 and 91 per cent in 2011-12.
The latest acquisition performance figures are detailed in the 2013-14 Major Projects Report by the Australian National Audit Office and the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).
The biggest problem project remains the $8 billion air warfare destroyer program, running 22 months late with a significant cost overrun because of poor shipyard productivity.
That overrun is at least $360 million and could be as high as $600 million.
DMO chief executive Warren King says a reform program is under way.
"Depending on the results of the AWD reform program, it is possible the project may have insufficient approved funds to complete the program," he says in the report.
Schedule delays remain the big problem for new defence equipment.
However, some projects are running on time, including the acquisition of joint strike fighters and Seahawk helicopters, and the navy's new large landing ships.
At this stage, JSF is scheduled to reach full operational capability in October 2023, two months ahead of schedule.
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