House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Boxer Vehicles: Procurement
Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 24618, tabled on 2 May 2024
John Healey
Labour
Wentworth and Dearne
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Boxer RCH 155 Self Propelled Howitzer will enter service with the Army.
Answer
James Cartlidge
Conservative
South Suffolk
Commons
Answered on 13 May 2024
RCH155 will be developed through a jointly led collaborative procurement between the UK and Germany. Working collaboratively on a joint assessment and qualification plan will exploit the combined capabilities of each nation’s test and trials centres enabling faster delivery at less cost. The certainty of platform choice also enables us to advance early acquisition of ammunition and other critical enablers in the assessment phase. Concurrently, we will continue to explore opportunities to accelerate delivery of RCH155 to the Army, where possible and in line with the new Integrated Procurement Model. The assessment phase of the programme will determine the most appropriate manufacturing approach and confirm the number of platforms required by the British Army. The Army aims to achieve a Mobile Fires Platform Minimum Deployable Capability within this decade. The joint programme is potentially worth upwards of £3 billion and marks a step change towards a deeper industrial and wider defence relationship between the UK and Germany.
Germany: Tanks
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Question for Ministry of Defence
Mr Ben Wallace
Conservative
Wyre and Preston North
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his German counterpart on ensuring that collaboration on the Boxer 155mm platform will not be subject to an export veto by the German (a) federal government and (b) parliament.
Answer
James Cartlidge
Conservative
South Suffolk
Commons
Answered on 15 May 2024
I have closely engaged with my German counterpart on the Boxer 155mm project, including consideration of future export prospects. The Prime Minister also discussed the project and the position on exports with Chancellor Scholz ahead of announcing the joint way ahead in Berlin on 24 April. Following the announcement, I also met with Secretary Zimmer in the Ministerial Equipment and Capability Cooperation(MECC) format on 8 May during which we discussed our plans to progress to the next stage of the programme.
Russia
Question for Ministry of Defence
Fabian Hamilton
Labour
Leeds North East
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of Russia’s threat of a military response following the UK’s provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine.
Answer
Leo Docherty
Conservative
Aldershot
Commons
Answered on 15 May 2024
The UK provided long range, precision strike conventional weapons so that the Armed Forces of Ukraine may better defend themselves in Ukraine. The granting of Storm Shadow was in response to Russia’s continued brutality and deliberate targeting of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, and it will help Ukraine restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow is the business of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and has successfully put pressure on Russian forces. The UK, along with other allies, is providing a range of equipment to Ukraine to help it counter Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression, on the understanding that it will be used in accordance with International Humanitarian Law.