§ 25. Mr. RiddickTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Challenger 2 tanks he expects will be delivered to the Army in the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [18059]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotAn order for a further 259 Challenger 2 main battle tanks was placed with Vickers plc in July 1994, bringing the total ordered to 386. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence informed the House on 24 October 1996,Official Report, columns 7–8, that the in-service date for Challenger 2 would be June 1998. Thirty-six tanks have already been delivered and I expect the remainder to have been delivered to the Army by February 2002.