§ Mr. Pageasked the Secretary of State for Defence, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West, Official Report, column 162, on 2 July, over the evaluations of the RTM 322 engine in the SH60B by the United States authorities, how the evaluation is proceeding in those tests which were started some two months earlier than 6 June.
§ Mr. SainsburyRTM 322 engines were installed in the SH60B during February, in preparation for the United States navy evaluation. Some initial ground running and flying were then carried out before the aircraft was handed over to the United States navy on 6 June. I understand that, during that preparatory period, the testing was entirely satisfactory and the engines performed fully up to expectations.