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Ministry of Defence;Defence Procurement Agency

Answer

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines have been set for the future Scout and Cavalry system and tactical reconnaissance armoured combat equipment requirement; what ISTAR capabilities TRACER and FSCS will employ; and if he will make a statement. [138976] 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 22 November 2000: I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence on the collaborative Future Scout and Cavalry System and Tactical Reconnaissance Armoured Combat Equipment Requirement (TRACER) programme. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. You asked what guidelines have been set for the programme. In approving the programme, Minister (Defence Procurement) directed that the work on TRACER should be part of an integrated strategy of studies which would include work to determine the role that Unmanned Air Vehicles would play in battlefield reconnaissance. Balance of Investment studies will inform a decision on the optimum mix of sensors and platforms to meet the land commander's critical information requirements. On the question of what ISTAR capabilities will be employed, TRACER/FSCS will form the land-based component of the wider Information, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) assets. To meet commanders' requirements for detailed combat intelligence, these systems will need to be capable of gathering, processing and disseminating accurate and timely information. Of primary importance will be information on the enemy strength, deployment and equipment. To provide a complete and detailed picture of the battlefield Commanders will also require data on terrain, navigability, obstacles and routes. In the context of TRACER, two competing consortia are considering a wide range of candidate technologies. These include surveillance systems, a sophisticated sensor suite, a balanced survivability package including stealth technology, an improved target detection and recognition capability, Defensive Aids Suites and physical protection in the form of advanced armour technologies. A decision on the final system architecture will take account of the outcome of the current Project Definition phase, due to complete in July 2002, and the parallel studies into the use of Unmanned Air Vehicles for battlefield reconnaissance.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

357 c190-1W; 138976

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Armoured fighting vehicles Procurement Surveillance Military intelligence Tactical reconnaissance armoured combat equipment requirement

Link

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