HC Deb 10 June 1996 vol 279 cc44-5W
Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sea Harrier aircraft have been lost in the last year; how many new aircraft from the attrition batch whose procurement was announced in January 1994 have now been deployed in squadron service as replacements; and what navigation system was fitted to those replacement aircraft when they were delivered by British Aerospace. [31758]

Mr. Soames

In the year since 1 June 1995, there have been two major accidents involving Royal Navy Sea Harrier FA2 aircraft. The first was on 20 October, when an aircraft caught fire while preparing to take off from Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, Yeovilton; and the second on 13 February when an aircraft ditched into the Adriatic. Additionally, a Royal Navy Harrier T4 crashed near Wellington, Somerset on 23 February, tragically killing the two personnel on board.

Four Sea Harrier aircraft from the attrition batch whose procurement was announced in January 1994 have been deployed in squadron service. A further aircraft is currently in the maintenance group and will be delivered to a front-line squadron shortly. The replacement aircraft delivered by British Aerospace were fitted with the Navigation heading and attitudes reference system.

Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost to his Department of procuring new navigation systems for Sea Harrier aircraft; and what share of the value of that contract will be passed on to British Aerospace. [31757]

Mr. Arbuthnot

The total cost to my Department of procuring new navigation systems for the Sea Harrier aircraft is estimated to be in the order of £35 million at current prices inclusive of VAT. This includes the costs of equipment, its integration into the aircraft and flight trials to ensure system safety and airworthiness. It is not possible at this stage to quantify the precise value of the British Aerospace element of the programme because contract negotiations have not yet been concluded. Contract price values are, in any case, usually commercially confidential.