Wavell and BATES Systems

HC Deb 05 June 1981 vol 5 c453W

Mr. Best

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the introduction of Wavell and BATES systems into the Army.

Mr. Pattie

Wavell is an automated command and control system for use in BAOR. Early versions of the equipment are already in service with one division in Germany, on a trial basis. No decision has yet been taken on deployment of the main system. The battlefield artillery target engagement system, known as BATES, is still in an early stage of development. It is intended to complement the new artillery systems such as MLRS and SP70, due to enter service in the second half of the decade.