§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits to the United Kingdom of the German Army joining the L15A4 projectile programme; and if he will make a statement. [113899]
§ Dr. MoonieNone. We are currently in the process of procuring the L15A3 155 mm high explosive artillery shell as part of a five year large calibre training ammunition contract which was placed with Royal Ordnance in December 1998. An assessment of possible options for a new generation of high explosive shell to replace existing L15A2 and A3 shells has not yet been undertaken. We do not therefore have an approved L15A4 projectile programme, but any future procurement of a replacement for our existing L15 shells would examine all options, including collaboration.