§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on joint-design work between the Royal Navy and the US Navy on the torpedo tube-launched Tomahawk cruise missile; and if he will make a statement. [32891]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Block IIIC Tomahawk missiles currently in service with the Royal Navy are launched from submarine torpedo tubes. The next generation, Tactical Tomahawk Block IV, missile is currently designed for vertical launch only. Jointly funded UK-US studies to assess the feasibility of launching the Block IV missile from submarine torpedo tubes have been successfully completed, and further development work is planned to start later this year, subject to completion of contractual negotiations.