Questions
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government how the estimated mean distance between the failure of (a) the power pack, and (b) the engine, fitted to the standard FV430 range of armoured fighting vehicles compares with those of the same vehicle upgraded to Bulldog standard. [HL351]
At the time the Bulldog project was initiated, the mean distance between failure (MDBF) for the AFV430 MkII power pack was reputed to be in the order of 250 kms. The Bulldog powertrain has steadily improved in reliability since its introduction and is now delivering an MDBF of 4850 kms as at November 2009.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in recent years the Ministry of Defence has experienced difficulties in sourcing spare parts for power packs in the standard FV430 range of fighting vehicles. [HL352]
Yes. Despite whole-life buys of spares made in support of the AFV430 MkII drive trains, it was judged that these spares would be exhausted by the revised out of service date of 2015. This, combined with the increasing obsolescence of the power pack components, was one of the main reasons for initiating the Bulldog project, for which the contract was signed in November 2005, and these issues have now been resolved.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of running for 100 kilometres (a) a standard FV430 armoured fighting vehicle, and (b) the same vehicle upgraded to Bulldog standard. [HL353]
This information is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the steering, service and parking brakes on a standard FV430 armoured fighting vehicle are part of the same system; whether that would be legal for a new civilian vehicle; and, if not, whether that problem has been addressed by the Bulldog upgrade. [HL354]
The steering and brakes on the AFV430 are part of the same system. This would not be legal for a new civilian vehicle. The Bulldog conversion, however, meets current legislative requirements for armoured fighting vehicles.