The MoD is spending more than half a billion pounds more than it budgeted for to equip our armed forces over the next 10 years.
And that would be enough to pay for 260,000 hernia repairs, 162,000 cataract ops or 56,000 hip replacements as hospital waiting lists spiral out of control.
Now Labour warns there might not be enough money for all the gear the Army, Navy and RAF need to fight future wars because of the overspend.
The Navy is to get eight Type 26 frigates with three already under construction at an extra cost of £259million.
And the biggest extra cost comes from Boxer armoured cars to create new mechanised infantry brigades which come to £543million more than the original price tag.
The eye watering figures are revealed in a cost analysis of 19 projects in the Defence Equipment Plan for 2022-32.
This shows kit costing £932million more than expected. But there are also savings on other items which means a net projected overspend of £647million.
Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey said: “Funding shortfalls are likely to arise.
“With threats increasing and sky-high inflation, the MoD’s Equipment Plan has already been overtaken by events.
“The Conservatives’ broken procurement system risks the delivery of the equipment our armed forces need to fight and fulfil our NATO obligations.”
IT systems for communications and cyber security have overrun by £35million, Astute submarines by £10million and Brimstone missiles, currently being supplied to Ukraine at £175,000 each, by £11million.
But £14million has been saved on extending the life of Challenger tanks and £28million on Skynet military satellites.
The biggest cost saving of all is £194million on Wedgetail early warning aircraft due to come into service with the RAF in 2024.
The MoD said it was spending £242billion on new equipment over the next ten years and 11 of the 19 projects will come in under budget.
A spokesperson added: “The majority of this cost increase is due to purchasing 100 extra Boxer armoured vehicles for the British Army.”
