§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many FV430 series armoured vehicles are operational with the Army; and what the(a) oldest and (b) youngest FV430 vehicle in service is. [123654]
§ Mr. IngramThe FV430 fleet consists of 1,720 vehicles, some 1,400 of which are currently active within Army Units. Other vehicles are held either in Depot, undergoing Base Overhaul, or are employed with trials Units or Contractors. The fleet is planned to reduce to a total of 1,490 by mid-2004.
Of the vehicles remaining in service, the oldest entered service on 1 May 1965 and the youngest on 1 February 1975.