Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026 to question 106285 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Decommissioning, what progress he has made on procuring a CBRN capable replacement for the Fuchs CBRN platform.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Options to replace the Fuchs vehicle are being explored as part of the Land Mobility Programme, within the Heavy Protected Mobility sub-programme.
The Heavy Protected Mobility sub-programme is in its Concept Phase and is currently evaluating the Finnish led Common Armoured Vehicles System (CAVS) Programme's suitability in meeting UK's Heavy Protected Mobility requirements. All decisions are subject to the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2926, to question 106076 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, when was the Armour Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot round a) introduced and b) cancelled, prior to the assessment regarding whether it should be reinstated for use.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The review of options commenced in October 2022. This preliminary assessment was to determine feasibility and potential options. A stop notice was issued in December 2023 under the last Government after assessment trials were conducted.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to question 101527 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, what was the project regarding the ammunition capability of the Armour Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot munitions.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Armour Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot munitions was one of three ammunitions proposed to be reinstated for use in the 30mm Rarden used by the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle. It did not have a specific project name.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to question 101527 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, if he will take steps to revalidate all information in the 2024-25 Ministry of Defence Accounts.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I will write to the hon. Member shortly with a full response and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to question 101527 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, by when he plans re-publish the 2024-25 Ministry of Defence Accounts and publish a public correction.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I will write to the hon. Member shortly with a full response and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2025 to question 98882 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, how much funding has been allocated to Project Rarden in the defence budget in each year since 2000 including financial allocations carried forward for accounting purposes.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to his Question 98882 which remains extant. There has been no money spent or specific work carried out under Project Rarden in the last ten years, there is no further data prior to this date.
Project Rarden is a legacy project that introduced the Rarden cannon into service in the 1970s. The reference to Project Rarden in the 2024-2025 Ministry of Defence Accounts is an error – this will be corrected.
I can confirm that this entry relates to ammunition capability which was funded as part of the Armoured Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) munition. The Constructive loss of circa £3.7 million is a result of Defence choosing not to pursue procurement of the APFSDS munition following initial trials.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2025 to question 98882 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, what the £3,777,000 in constructive losses related to Project Rarden in the 2024-25 Ministry of Defence Accounts is for.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to his Question 98882 which remains extant. There has been no money spent or specific work carried out under Project Rarden in the last ten years, there is no further data prior to this date.
Project Rarden is a legacy project that introduced the Rarden cannon into service in the 1970s. The reference to Project Rarden in the 2024-2025 Ministry of Defence Accounts is an error – this will be corrected.
I can confirm that this entry relates to ammunition capability which was funded as part of the Armoured Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) munition. The Constructive loss of circa £3.7 million is a result of Defence choosing not to pursue procurement of the APFSDS munition following initial trials.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has he made in identifying a tracked replacement for the FV430-series Mk3 Bulldog ahead of its out-of-service date of 2030.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to Question 102953 on 8 January 2026.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-05/102953
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential benefit of procuring the AMPV from BAE as a replacement for the FV430 Mk3 Bulldog.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to Question 102953 on 8 January 2026.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-05/102953
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made in replacing the FV430 series Mk3 Bulldog.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
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.
The Heavy Protected Mobility sub-programme is in its Concept Phase and is currently evaluating the Finnish led Common Armoured Vehicles System (CAVS) Programme’s suitability in meeting UK’s Heavy Protected Mobility requirements.
The programme is being considered and is part of the Defence Investment Plan.