DROPS (Hansard, 4 February 1988)

§ Mr. Sean Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the Scammell (Leyland/DAF) DROPS was chosen by his Department.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
The vehicle was selected as a result of a competitive exercise from 1982 to 1985 involving detailed engineering and other assessments together with extended troop and associated trials by the Army and the Department's research and development authorities.

§ Mr. Sean Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what different tyre sizes were tried on the original DROPS trailer vehicle 18 months ago.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
None.

§ Mr. Sean Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Scammell (Leyland/DAF) DROPS achieved a lateral stability of 28 degrees plus in trials.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
No.

§ Mr. Sean Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether DROPS is air portable.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
No.

§ Mr. Sean Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to review the decision to procure the Scammell (Leyland/DAF) DROPS.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
No. Like all major equipment projects, the DROPS programme as a whole will continue to be subject to regular review in the normal way.
719W

§ Mr. Sean Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what design changes have been made to the chassis of the original DROPS trailer equipment; and by how much this has raised the vehicle's centre of gravity.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
None.