Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Materiel) Share this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) Defence plans to seek Government's agreement for Second Pass in 2012.

(2) The Australian Defence Force intends to acquire under LAND 17 the following guns:

(a) Defence is in contract for the delivery of 35 M777A2 Lightweight Towed 155mm Howitzers.

(b) The request for tender for the Self Propelled Howitzers sought 18 systems for Defence.

(3) There were two submissions received in response to the request for tender, from Krauss Maffei Wegmann and Raytheon Australia/Samsung Techwin. Defence is now finalising further work to address the capability's support arrangements that were outside of the Self Propelled Howitzer tender. These elements are critical to having a workable and fully costed capability that Government can consider for approval.

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