§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units will be equipped with the Bowman system when it first enters service; and when Bowman will be ready for operational deployment. [125619]
§ Mr. Ingram12 Mechanised Brigade HQ and Signals Squadron, 1st Bn The Royal Anglian Regiment and 1st Bn The Coldstream Guards, are scheduled to be equipped with Bowman by the target In-Service Date of 30 March 2004. Following that date, they would be capable of engaging in operations other than war.
480WThe remaining units of 12 Mechanised Brigade and its associated Divisional troops will be progressively equipped and trained to operate and support Bowman. 12 Mechanised Brigade will be ready for war fighting operational readiness when it has completed operational training and is declared as being at "High Readiness". Target date is June 2005.