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Ministry of Defence;Defence Procurement Agency

Answer

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the production of the Technology Demonstrator prototype; when is the estimated in-service date; what capabilities the close-in sensors and UWB sensors have for mine detection; and if he will make a statement. [139657] Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock dated 28 November 2000: I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the Technology Demonstrator prototype and its sensors for mine detection. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. There are no plans to produce production versions of the DERA Technology Demonstrator prototype. The Route Proving (RP) and Reconnaissance variants of MINDER are, however, likely to utilise concepts used in the DERA prototype which will be developed and evaluated in the course of the Competitive Assessment Phase of the MINDER project. The estimated in-service date for MINDER (RP) is 2005. There is a large range of senors which are being considered for MINDER (RP). Close-in sensors under consideration include Ground Penetrating Radar and Metal Detectors, both of which allow the detection of buried and surface laid mines. Forward-looking senors like Ultra Wide Band radar will be able to detect surface laid mines some distance ahead and should also be able to detect buried mines.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

357 c493W; 139657

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Bomb disposal Landmines

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk