§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Aimed Controlled Effect Anti-Tank Mine; and if he will list the project milestones. [68507]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 3 February 1999]: The Aimed Control Effect Anti-Tank Mine, ACEATM, is a collaborative programme with France and Germany. The development phase is expected to finish late this year, when France will withdraw from the programme. Subject to national approvals, the production phase would, therefore, proceed bilaterally with Germany.
On current plans, we expect to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Germany for the production phase later this year. The first production deliveries are expected around 2,003 with UK taking delivery towards the end of the production phase leading to an in-service date no later than 2008.
735WACEATM will be fully compliant with our commitments under the amended Protocol II of the United Nations Weapon Convention and the Ottawa Convention.