HC Deb 21 July 1998 vol 316 cc472-3W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the progress of Project Horizon; [51064]

(2) how many Horizon New Generation frigates he intends to purchase. [51254]

Mr. Spellar

The Programme Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, for the Common New Generation Frigate, Project Horizon, was signed by the United Kingdom, Italy and France in July 1994, with its supplement for Project Definition and Initial Design signed in March 1996. The Programme MOU for the vessel's Principal Anti-Air Missile System, PAAMS, and the supplement covering its Full Scale Engineering Development and initial Production, FSED/IP, were also signed in March 1996.

Since MOU signatures, negotiations on PAAMS FSED/IP have made progress and the tri-national contract is scheduled to be placed later this year. Project Definition studies on Horizon are well advanced with further work due to commence shortly and scheduled to be completed next year, with the next stage being the placing of the design and build contract for the nations' three first-of-class ships.

It is currently expected that 12 Horizon frigates will enter service with the Royal Navy.