Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential benefit of utilising the Ares vehicle as a direct replacement for the FV430 series Mk3 Bulldog.

The Army routinely assess which vehicles are best aligned to support specific capabilities. The Ares platform has a higher protection level and is more suitable to be employed in the direct battle, rather than in the close support role normally associated with Bulldog.

The long-term replacement for the FV430 series Bulldog is being considered as part of the Heavy Protected Mobility sub-programme, within the Land Mobility Programme.