§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce an initial acquisition contract for the SABR project; and if he will make a statement. [13281]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Support Amphibious and Battlefield Rotorcraft programme is designed to replace the capability provided by the Sea King Mk4 and Puma helicopter around the turn of the decade. The project is in its early stages and we have yet to decide how the capability requirement will best be met. It is too soon, therefore, to say when acquisition contracts might be placed.