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TIALD System
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (a) total estimated cost and (b) unit cost of the TIALD system included in the Tornado MLU programme specifying in each case the proportion of costs incurred by (i) development and (ii) production; and if he will make a statement. [107547]
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Dr. Moonie
[holding answer 2 February 2000]: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the right hon. and learned Member.
Letter from John Howe to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 11 February 2000:
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flying hours per year were provided for in RAF fuel allocations for (a) Tornado GR1/4, (b) Tornado F3, (c) Harrier, (d) Jaguar, (e) Nimrod, (f) Sentry, (g) Tristar, (h) Puma, (i) Sea King and (j) Chinook in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [107550]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 2 February 2000]: The requested information is in the following table which shows projected flying hours made at the beginning of each year by the squadrons concerned. The fuel allocation is then based on these projections, not the other way round.
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence in which you asked for details of the total estimated cost and unit cost of the TIALD system included in the Tornado MLU programme specifying in each case the proportion of cost incurred by development and production. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.
Integration of the TIALD system onto Tornado GR4 is but one element of the MLU93 firm price contract placed with PANAVIA (industrial consortium comprising BAE, DASA and Alenia) via the Tornado tri-national project office in 1994. Within the total contract value we are not able to identify the costs specifically associated with TIALD integration, a task which is essentially software integration and involving minimal production cost.
The TIALD pods used on Tornado are common to a number of different aircraft types including Harrier GR7, Harrier T10, Tornado GR1 and Tornado GR4; and were procured as part of a separate equipment programme. A total of 23 pods have been procured at a total development cost of £23m and a production cost per pod of £1.7m (both at 1999 prices).
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado GR1/4 | 33,303 | 33,623 | 33,716 | 33,615 | 28,756 |
| Tornado F3 | 32,183 | 30,440 | 31,049 | 30,343 | 25,694 |
| Harrier | 16,157 | 16,688 | 17,588 | 17,870 | 15,895 |
| Jaguar | 14,037 | 13,839 | 13,911 | 13,735 | 13,413 |
| Nimrod | 14,298 | 13,759 | 15,339 | 13,313 | 12,936 |
| Sentry | 4,446 | 4,446 | 4,446 | 4,446 | 4,446 |
| Tristar | 9,456 | 9,456 | 9,456 | 9,560 | 9,560 |
| Puma | 12,987 | 14,103 | 15,128 | 16,523 | 15,450 |
| Sea King | 11,013 | 12,051 | 12,622 | 12,093 | 10,859 |
| Chinook | 9,970 | 11,881 | 12,199 | 14,323 | 12,617 |
| Totals | 157,850 | 160,286 | 165,454 | 165,821 | 149,626 |
The reduction in projected hours in the fast jet categories in 1999-2000 reflects the net reduction of 36 aircraft as a result of SDR.
Land Mine Clearance
Mrs. Ray Michie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what technology his Department is developing to assist in the clearance of anti-personnel land mines; [108630]
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Dr. Moonie:
Since May 1997 my Department has conducted research into the following mine detection technologies for military purposes:
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The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency have recently developed a pyrotechnic torch, commercially known as the Fireant, to destroy anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines once they have been located. This is currently being trialled on operations.
Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military exercises that have been cancelled in the last 12 months, stating in each case the reason for cancellation and whether it was a national or international exercise. [109187]
Mr. Spellar:
The information requested is set out in the tables. The lists do not include international exercises where UK forces were to have participated but which were cancelled by other nations.
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(2) what research and development work has been funded by his Department since May 1997 into anti- personnel land mines clearance devices. [108631]
Ground penetrating radar
Research is also being conducted on the following technologies for the neutralisation of mines for military purposes:
Polarised thermal imaging
Metal detection
Quadruple resonance
Ultra-wide band radar
Ultra-wide bank synthetic aperture radar
We are also conducting research toward a vehicle-based route clearance system; the removal of anti-personnel land mines might be an aspiration for a later enhancement of this system.
| Serial | Name | Reason | Dates | National/ International |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open Spirit | Ship re-deployed to NATO Standing Force (Mine Countermeasure Force North) to ensure that the ship originally allocated to MCM Force did not breach harmony guidelines following additional tasking | August 1999 | International |
| 2 | Sandy Coast 99(20) | Ship allocated was involved in ordnance clearance operations in Adriatic under NATO auspices. The operation was extended which precluded her participation in Sandy Coast | September 1999 | International |
| 3 | Falcon Nut(20) | Ship re-deployed with Amphibious Task Group to Mediterranean in order to achieve a more cohesive force package | October 1999 | International |
| 4 | Flotex | In year Budget Management Measure | November 1999 | International |
| 5 | Cadence Brake | In year Budget Management Measure | November 1999 | National |
| 6 | Squadex 45/99 | The opportunity arose to operate with French carrier which was considered to provide greater training benefits | November 1999 | International |
| 7 | Aswex 2000 | In year Budget Management Measure | January 2000 | National |
| 8 | RM Winter Deployment | In year Budget Management Measure | January 2000 | National |
(20) UK units allocated to NATO participated but there was no direct UK involvement
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(21) The exercise was cancelled in the planning stages because a suitable unit could not be identified that had undertaken pre BATUS (British Army Training Unit Suffield) training on Challenger II.
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