§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost to date of the COBRA counter-battery radar system at current prices; what was the original total cost at current prices; when the COBRA will be in service; and when it was first estimated to be in service. [17194.]
§ Mr. FreemanThe latest estimated total cost to the United Kingdom of developing the COBRA counter-battery radar system is £63 million at current price levels which remains in line with the original estimate.
However, the project has not yet entered production, and the total estimated costs of the production phase are commercially sensitive. Current production cost estimates predict an increase to the UK of some £30 million at current prices owing to exchange rate variations and a change in our VAT liability arising from revised deployment plans.
The in-service date—ISD—for COBRA is classified. The currently endorsed ISD is five years later than that originally forecast in 1985 and further slippage of 18 months is expected. This delay is principally due to a reassessment of ISD following the project definition phase, protracted negotiations with collaborative partners and industry, and further development work that is aimed at reducing production costs.