Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Friday, 9 January 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 January 2009. It was answered by Lord Davies of Stamford (Labour) on Monday, 19 January 2009 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Defence Equipment: Procurement

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what progress has been made on developing high performance steel armour; and what plans the Government has to purchase such steel for the armed forces;

Answer: High performance steel has been a key constituent of armour for many years. A collaboration between the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), Cambridge university and QinetiQ has resulted in the development of a new, high performance armour steel known as Super Bainite. Successful production trials have been completed and we are engaging with UK industry to take production and exploitation forward.We have no current plans to alter our policy of sourcing steel armour from suppliers worldwide. This approach ensures the best armour solutions for defence and the best deal for the taxpayer.

Secondary information