§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the(a) first and (b) last of the Challenger 2 tanks are expected to enter service; what is the current yearly delivery schedule; and what is the life expectancy of a single tank of the class. [20075]
§ Mr. SpellarThe first delivery of a production Challenger 2 main battle tank took place in August 1994. After reliability problems were confirmed in October 1995, no further tanks were accepted beyond the 36 already delivered. The successful completion of the Production Reliability Growth Trials in November 1997 means that deliveries of tanks are due to resume in January 1998 with the aim of completing deliveries to the first regiment in June 1998. Deliveries are planned to continue until February 2002. The current schedule of contract deliveries for the 386 tanks is as follows:
- 1994–95:9
- 1995–96:27
- 1996–97:0
- 1997–98:23
- 1998–99:106
- 1999–00:76
- 2000–01:76
- 2001–02:69.
The current planned in-service life of a Challenger 2 tank is 30 years.