(2) what the cost is of the BvS10 Viking all-terrain vehicle (a) as supplied and (b) with slatted armour as delivered to Camp Bastion in Helmand Province;
(3) what the maximum speed is of a BvS10 Viking all-terrain vehicle when driven on paved roadways;
(4) what the cost is, excluding that of the weapon, of providing the general purpose machine gun station on the BvS10 Viking all-terrain vehicle; and what protection the station affords from sniper fire.
The BvSl0 Viking all-terrain vehicles entered service in April 2006 and vehicle capitation (mileage) rates are not yet available.
There are three variants of the BvSl0 Viking; the Troop-Carrying variant; the Command variant; and the Repair and Recovery variant. The average capital cost per vehicle across all three variants is £348,000. The cost per vehicle for the additional armour and the general purpose machine gun station is estimated at £11,000 and £20,000 respectively. The vehicle has a maximum road speed of 65km/h.
I am withholding information relating to the level of protection afforded by the general purpose machine gun station as disclosure would compromise operational security.
The information requested cannot be disclosed, as it would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of this defence contractor.
The role of the vehicle, the surveillance requirements and the threat environment on operations were the factors taken into account.
Indicative whole life costs were received from the contractors during the assessment phase, in relation to the vehicles evaluated. This included the RG-31 which was offered as part of the assessment phase in 2001 for the Future Command and Liaison Vehicle. The three bids for demonstration, manufacture and support contained a more detailed lifecycle cost model as part of their tender, but the RG-31 was not one of those bids.