European Fighter Aircraft

HC Deb 11 January 1994 vol 235 cc155-6W

23. Mr. Page

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the European fighter aircraft.

Mr. Aitken

Eurofighter 2000 will be the cornerstone of the RAF's future capability. The manufacturers are now forecasting first flight for April this year. This delay is disappointing but there is no evidence of any major design problem and it should not be of any great significance in overall programme terms. We and our collaborative partners plan to take a decision on a commitment to production in 1995, which will still allow production aircraft for the RAF to be delivered in 2000.