§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the requirement for externally mounted Brimstone and ASRAAM missiles for the future Joint Strike Fighter has been removed; and what missiles will be fitted to the future Joint Strike Fighter as alternatives to the requirement for externally-mounted Brimstone and ASRAAM. [98235]
§ Mr. IngramWhile the design of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), to be known in United Kingdom service as the Future Joint Combat Aircraft (FJCA), provides for the external and internal carriage of ASRAAM and Brimstone, the external carriage of weapons would adversely impact on the aircraft's radar signature. Our weapons strategy for JSF is still evolving, but internal carriage of weapons is required in the high threat environments in which we expect FJCA to operate. On current plans, therefore, FJCA will carry both ASRAAM and Brimstone internally. It is not currently considered cost effective for FJCA to carry these weapons externally as well.