§ Sir Nicholas BonsorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects AS90 howitzers to be refitted with a 52 calibre gun barrel; what difficulties have been encountered in trials with existing L17 practice rounds; what plans he has for procuring extended range ordnance for rebarrelled AS90 howitzers; and if he will make a statement. [18793]
§ Mr. FreemanWe expect to issue shortly an invitation to tender to Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. for the development and production of a 52 calibre ordnance for AS90. On current plans, this will lead to the first howitzers being covered to extended range ordnance before the end of the decade. Trials with a prototype 52 calibre barrel firing inert L17 rounds have resulted in some cases of "engraving" of the projectile when it has been fired at the maximum range. This is being addressed as part of the risk reduction work already in hand by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and industry.