HC Deb 20 October 1992 vol 212 cc249-50W
Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for of Defence what is the nature of the work being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence establishment at Dundrennan involving research into an electro-magnetic gun; for whom the work is being carried out; and under what contractual arrangements.

Mr. Aitken

This is a matter delegated to the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

In his written answer today the Minister of State for Defence Procurement said that I would be replying directly to the following question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the nature of the work being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence establishment at Dundrennan involving research into an electromagnetic gun; for whom the work is being carried out; and under what contractual arrangements.

The Defence Research Agency is in the process of establishing a research electromagnetic gun range at the MOD trials site at Kirkcudbright, Kirkcudbrightshire. This facility is being constructed as part of a research programme to assess the feasibility of using electromagnetic propulsion to enhance the armour penetrating performance of tank gunnery. The research programme is being carried out for the Master General of the Ordnance to enable him to assess more precisely the potential military value of any future tank gunnery system based upon electromagnetic propulsion. The installation work at Kirkcudbright which is jointly funded with the US Government is being carried out by Marconi Radar & Control Systems on a fixed priced contract. Work started in 1989 and is expected to be complete by mid 1993.