§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the production of the Challenger 2 battle tank. [49304]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 7 July 1998]: Following the successful completion of production reliability growth trials, deliveries of Challenger 2 tanks resumed in January 1998. Deliveries to the first regiment were completed in June 1998, and deliveries of the second regiment are on course for completion by the end of December 1998. The programme remains on schedule for all 386 tanks to be delivered by February 2002, at which stage all our armoured regiments will be equipped with Challenger 2.