Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has considered replacing the DS30M on the batch 2 River class for the Bofors 40 MK4.

The DS30M Mark 2 30mm Automated Small Calibre Gun remains an appropriate armament against the surface threats to which a Batch 2 River-class Offshore Patrol Vessel could be exposed. Any future consideration of alternative weapon systems would be assessed against cost, capability need, platform integration requirements, crew impacts, and overall value for money in the context of the developing Defence Investment Plan.