§ Lord Vivianasked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of the cancellation of the Tracer programme, when the reconnaissance version of the future rapid effect system will be able to replace the current armoured reconnaissance vehicles, which are about 20 years old. [HL1244]
§ Lord BachNo decision has yet been made on the in-service date for the reconnaissance element of the future rapid effect system. As a result of the decision not to proceed beyond the assessment phase of the Tracer programme, the land commander's intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance requirements will be met principally by a combination of the Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle and manned ground reconnaissance. It is planned that Watchkeeper will enter service around the middle of this decade.