Procurement (Hansard, 7 December 1999)

§ Mr. Kilfoyle

The information requested is as follows:

The basis for setting and approving in-service dates (ISDs) is currently under review in the context of the Smart Procurement Initiative. It should also be noted that costs quoted are for acquisition only, expressed in constant prices at 1999–2000 levels.

1. Future Offensive Air System (FOAS)—The original in-service date (ISD) was 2015. The current ISD is 2017. The current cost estimate is about £10 billion, though this should be seen as a broad estimate only. Years of peak expenditure are expected to be 2017–18 and 2018–19. The FOAS project is currently in the Concept phase. Contractors for the Concept phase studies include British Aerospace and Matra BAe Dynamics (UK).
2. BOWMAN—The original ISD was 1995. The current ISD is 2002, but this is under review. The current cost estimate is around £2.2 billion and the years of peak expenditure are expected to be 2002–03 and 2003–04. The prime contractor is ARCHER Communications Systems Ltd.
3. BARMINE Replacement—The original and current ISDs are 2010. The current cost estimate is £54 million, with peak expenditure in 2007–08 and 2008–09. The prime contractor is not yet known.
4. Area Weapons Effect Simulator—The original ISD was 1999. The current ISD is 2003. Current estimated costs are £99 million with peak expenditure in 1999–2000 and 2000–01. The prime contractor is Cubic Defense Systems, USA.
5. Future Short and Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (now known as Future Ground Based Air Defence—FGBAD)—The original ISD was 2015. The latest estimated ISD is 2020 but this will be considered further in the concept and assessment phases. The current cost estimate is around £4.5 billion. The peaks in expenditure will depend on the decisions made in the concept and assessment phases. The prime contractors for the two International Feasibility Studies—now completed—were Matra BAe Dynamics and Thomson-Thorn Missile Electronics. The planned further Concept work is likely to be placed on the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, who would be supported by the Rapier and High Velocity Missile Design Authorities.
6. Combined Arms Tactical Trainer—The original ISD was 2000. The current ISD is 2001. The current estimated cost is £247 million with years of peak expenditure in 1997–98 to 2001–02. The prime contractor is Lockheed Martin Information Systems.
7. TERRIER—The original ISD was 2005. The current ISD is 2009. Information on the current cost estimate is commercially sensitive and is being withheld under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The two prime contractors for the competitive Project Definition phase are Vickers Defence Systems and Marconi Marine Land and Naval Systems.
8.Range Extension for Tactical Trunk Communications—We have assumed that this is a reference to the satellite extension to the PTARMIGAN trunk communications system which was brought into

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service in September 1997 at an actual cost of £24.5 million. The prime contractor was Siemens Plessey and peak years of expenditure were 1995–96.

9. Future Engineer Tank—The original ISD was 2001. The current ISD is 2006. Information on cost estimates is commercially sensitive and is being withheld under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The three contractors for the competitive Feasibility studies are Vickers Defence Systems, Alvis Vehicles and Obrum, Poland.
10. Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapons System (LIMAWS)—The original and current ISD is 2007 for the howitzer only. The other elements of the system are not yet sufficiently defined. Information on cost estimates is commercially sensitive and is being withheld under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The prime contractor is Marconi Marine Land and Naval Systems.
11. Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon (NLAW)—The original and current ISD is 2006. Information on cost estimates is commercially sensitive and is being withheld under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The two prime contractors for the competitive Project Definition phase are Matra BAe Dynamics (UK) Ltd. and Bofors Carl Gustaf AB (Sweden).
12. Formation Battle Management System (FBMS)—The original and current ISD is 2002. The project is, however, linked with BOWMAN and revisions to that programme could impact on the ISD of FBMS. The current estimated costs are £74 million with peak expenditure in years 2001–02 to 2004–05. The prime contractor is British Aerospace Defence Systems Ltd.
13. Theatre Wide Area Communications Network (TWACN)—The TWACN original and current ISD is 2002. The cost estimate is commercially sensitive and is withheld under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Expenditure is likely to peak in 2001–02 to 2004–05 once a prime contractor has been identified.
14. Future Carrier Borne Aircraft (FCBA)—The original and current ISD is 2012. Overall FCBA numbers and hence the total cost of the programme, which could be in the region of £5 billion to £7 billion, have yet to be determined. Peak expenditure is likely to occur in 2013–14 and 2014–15. We are participating in the Concept Demonstration Phase (CDP) of the US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme. Lockheed Martin and Boeing are the prime contractors for JSF CDP, with several UK companies as sub-contractors. We are also undertaking feasibility studies covering navalisation of Eurofighter, other potential solutions and various ship/aircraft interface issues. A number of contracts have been placed with UK industry as part of these UK feasibility studies.
15. Future Amphibious Support Helicopter (FASH)—The provisional ISD is 2008. The current estimate of costs is around £1 billion with peak expenditure estimated to be in years 2009–10 to 2010–11. The prime contractor is not yet known.
16. SCOT Capability Upgrade (SCUG)—The original ISD was 2004. The current ISD is 2005. The cost estimate is commercially sensitive and is withheld under 454W exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Expenditure is likely to peak in 2005–06 and 2006–07. A prime contractor has yet to be identified.
17. Naval EHF Satellite Terminal (NEST)—The original ISD was 2004, the current ISD is 2005. The cost estimate is commercially sensitive and is withheld under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Expenditure is likely to peak in 2004–05 and 2005–06. A prime contractor has yet to be identified.
18. Electronic Warfare Database and Rapid Reaction Facility—There is at present no formal user requirement for this programme.
19. Sonar 2087—The original ISD was 2003. The current ISD is 2004. Current estimated cost is around £390 million with peak expenditure expected in years 2003–04 and 2006–07. The prime contractors are Thomson Marconi Sonar Ltd. and Babcock Defence Systems.
20. EW 2000—The original and current ISD is 2006. Cost estimates are commercially sensitive and withheld under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Likely peak years of expenditure are 2003–04 to 2005–06. A prime contractor has yet to be identified.