§ Mr. John GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to replace the Bulldog aircraft currently in service with the Royal Air Force. [33110]
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§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe British Aerospace Bulldog aircraft has served the Royal Air Force well for over 20 years. The current principal users of the Bulldog are the university air squadrons, and the aircraft is planned to remain in service until at least the year 2010. The Royal Air Force is currently investigating a number of options bearing on the future of the Bulldog fleet and delivery of flying to university air squadrons and air experience flights. As the then Minister said in debate on the Royal Air Force on 4 May 1995,Official Report, column 455, we shall carefully examine the economics of replacing the Bulldog compared with those of other options. If, as a result, a recommendation is made that the Bulldog fleet should be replaced before 2010 then a full competition would be needed to select the most suitable replacement.
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