Anti-armour Ammunition

HC Deb 01 July 1993 vol 227 cc627-8W

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the programme of research and development into anti-armour ammunition with depleted uranium penetrators.

Mr. Aitken

My Department has undertaken two development programmes for anti-armour tank ammunition with depleted uranium penetrators. The CHARM 1 programme to develop a 120 mm tank round with a depleted uranium penetrator is now almost complete. A programme to develop an enhanced performance 120 mm tank round with a depleted uranium penetrator—CHARM 3—began in 1991.

My Department has also undertaken a research programme to examine the feasibility of developing a 140mm tank round with a depleted uranium penetrator. This programme, too, is now almost complete.