US Army officials have delayed a decision on moving BAE Systems Plc’s new self-propelled howitzer into full production, possibly as late as November, until the service sees more improvements in the $8.1-billion programme that’s one its highest priorities. “They have made progress, but they’re still not at the point where they’ve convinced us they are prepared to go into full-rate production,” Army Secretary Mark Esper said in an interview. “There’s some thresholds they have to meet” for the service and for the Defense Contract Management Agency, which is monitoring the company’s progress in improving quality.