§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of ammunition containing depleted uranium by British armed forces. [92711]
§ Mr. IngramUnited Kingdom forces have two types of depleted uranium (DU) ammunition; 120 mm antitank rounds (CHARM 3), fired by the Army's Challenger tanks, and 20 mm rounds used by the Royal Navy's Phalanx Close-in Weapon System (a missile defence system).
447WDU rounds are the most effective kinetic energy penetrators against armour and the British Army will use them if the need arises.
The Royal Navy's Close-In Weapon System does not require anti-armour properties and in recent years, a new tungsten round has been developed for it. Since 1996, all replacement ammunition for the Phalanx system has been of the tungsten variety. Some ships still carry the 20 mm DU round, however, and would fire it should the need arise.