Zitat:Extraction/Insertion Pod

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been to his Department of the development of the Extraction Stroke Insertion Pod for UK use; and what the expected cost will be to bring this into service; and if he will make a statement. [130377]


Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.



Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Michael Hancock, dated 26 July 2000:

I have been asked to reply to your question about the extraction/insertion pod for UK use since the work to which you refer was carried out as part of DERA's Pathfinder programme.Pathfinder was launched by the then Defence Research Agency in 1992 in order to strengthen the industry participation in the research programme that MOD contracted from DRA. A concept study of the AVPRO EXINT pod was carried out as a Priority Pathfinder, which DERA funded from its own resources, in 1996. About £39K was contributed to the study by DERA to look at the aeromedical aspects of the pod. A report was issued on the completion of the study and AVPRO subsequently put forward proposals for further work to the Ministry of Defence (MOD). At the present time these proposals have not been taken up.

Zitat:the future with the AVPRO EXINT people pods which could make the useless for Close Air Support marine AV-8B Harrier II vertical take-off/landing jet (needs running take-off to carry decent bombload, burns fuel too fast to remain overhead to support friendly troops, fuel tanks and exhaust nozzles co-located, unarmored) play a vital role in downed pilot rescues---since the longer the delay, the more enemy troops converge around the man (or men) in jeopardy.