HC Deb 28 January 2004 vol 417 cc370-1W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on the Royal Navy's(a) Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft and (b) Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon projects. [149542]

Mr. Ingram

The Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft (SCMR) programme is currently nearing the end of its Assessment Phase. A Main Gate investment decision is expected later this year when, as with any other programme, the decision on Demonstration and Manufacture will be made, with the capability planned to be phased into service around the turn of the decade.

The Future Air to Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) programme remains early in its concept phase. This includes studies into a range of solutions to provide a future Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) capability, superseding the Sea Skua missile currently carried by the Royal Navy Lynx helicopters. A final investment decision will be made at the programme Main Gate, currently planned for the second half of this decade, with the capability entering service during the first half of the next decade.