Despite promises from British PM, the delivery of the Warthog armored vehicle behind schedule

Despite promises from British PM, the delivery of the Warthog armored vehicle behind scheduleMinisters have said that despite promises from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the delivery of the Warthog armored vehicle is behind schedule.

Defense News has reported that Singapore's ST Kinetics delivered the Warthog to the British Ministry of Defense on time in 2009, though the vehicle failed British acceptance tests.

British forces deploying to Afghanistan were forced to leave without the armored vehicle.

It was also reported that Brown in 2009 promised to get the Warthog to British forces in Afghanistan through an urgent operational order. The Warthog was to replace the smaller and lightly armored Viking Mk1, which was criticized for its inferior protection, beginning in April.

More than 100 Warthogs were ordered from ST Kinetics in 2008 for around $230 million. A representative from the British Ministry of Defense said they were "undergoing extensive reliability trials along with integration activities."

However, none of the Warthogs have deployed to Afghanistan, Quentin Davis, the procurement minister in the Ministry of Defense, told lawmakers.

The Warthog is the first such acquisition for British forces from an Asian company. (With Inputs from Agencies)