§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which British companies were asked to tender for the vehicle for the Theatre Wide Area Communications System; and if he will make a statement. [136784]
§ Dr. MoonieOur procurement strategy has been to seek a prime contractor for the entire Theatre Wide Area Communications Network for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force. The two competing companies (Nortel Networks Global Professional Services (Defence) and Thomson Racal Defence) for the prime contract were invited to propose the most suitable means, including communications equipments and vehicles, to meet the capability requirement. My Department has therefore not sought any tenders directly for vehicles to meet this requirement.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected cost is for of the(a) Theatre Wide Area Communications System and (b) the vehicle to be used for the system; and if he will make a statement. [136788]
§ Dr. MoonieIn the absence of the selection of a preferred contractor and finalisation of negotiations, a firm figure is not available, but we expect the cost of the Theatre Wide Area Communications Network manufacture contract, including vehicles and the first three years support, to be around £120 million.
11W
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Bucher-Guyer Duro vehicle is used by(a) British and (b) NATO forces; and if he will make a statement. [136786]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Bucher-Guyer Duro vehicle is not currently used by British forces. I understand a total of some 3,500 of these vehicles are in service with the armed forces of Belgium, Switzerland and Malaysia.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Bucher-Guyer Duro vehicle for use with the Theatre Wide Area Communications System; and if he will make a statement. [136782]
§ Dr. MoonieAgainst the overall capability sought for the Theatre Wide Area Communications Network (TWACN) for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force the Bucher-Guyer Duro vehicle has been proposed as the most suitable vehicle by both companies competing for the prime contract. Assessment continues of both companies' offers for TWACN, including the vehicles, against the capability sought.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specification of vehicle was prepared for the Theatre Wide Area Communications System; and if he will make a statement. [136785]
§ Dr. MoonieThe requirement sought from industry was in the form of the capability required for the entire Theatre Wide Area Communications Network (TWACN) for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF). In broad terms this included a requirement for a vehicle capable of being deployed, including by air, and used in accordance with the needs of the JRRF. The detailed requirements applicable to the vehicle are classified and I am withholding them under paragraph la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests the Bucher-Guyer Duro vehicle has undergone for use in the British Army; and if he will make a statement. [136787]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Bucher-Guyer Duro has been subjected to date to a range of tests including airportability; human factors integration; Theatre Wide Area Communications Network box body fit and integration with the Duro chassis; and, initial recovery assessment. We have received copies of reliability trials reports from both the Swiss Ministry of Defence and from Germany, plus a technical evaluation report from the Czech Republic. UK type approval from the Vehicle Certification Agency has been confirmed.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when contracts will be placed for the Theatre Wide Area Communications System; and if he will make a statement. [136783]
§ Dr. MoonieWe expect to place the prime contract for the entire Theatre Wide Area Communications Network for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force by the end of December 2000, subject to the satisfactory outcome of final contract negotiations with the preferred contractor, a decision on which is expected to be taken around the middle of November.