Letter from the Minister of State for
Defence Procurement on the SA80 Weapon System (2 June 1997)
John Reid wrote to you, on my behalf, on 10
September last to inform you that the SA80 weapon system had been
suspended from the NATO Nominated Weapons List as the result of
difficulties when firing ammunition natures in service with our
NATO Allies. He undertook to write again once we had decided a
way ahead.
John also mentioned our own national trials,
from which a number of reliability issues have emerged. A review
this February of the results of trials over the period from 1995
to 1997 has raised the possibility that there may be underlying
problems with the reliability of the system, including its use
with UK ammunition, and particularly in the hottest and dryest
conditions. The evidence remains inconclusive, and the work we
are planning with Heckler and Koch will be important in determining
a clear understanding of the current performance, along with the
options for improvement.
Heckler and Koch have now presented their proposals
to us for modifications to the breech block and chamber magazines,
gas plug and barrel geometry. We have decided to place a contract
with them, through Royal Ordnance, to incorporate the proposed
modifications on a statistically viable batch of 200 weapons,
including different combinations of modifications, to allow full
visibility and confirmation of quantifiable increases in reliability.
This work and subsequent detailed assessment are not expected
to be complete until around the end of the year. We will then
consider what, if any, wider modification programme to implement.
In the meantime, the NATO panel, with our agreement,
decided in March to continue the temporary suspension of SA80
from the NATO Nominated Weapons List, pending the results of our
programme of action to rectify the problems.
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