§ Mr. Nelsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the timing, participation and nature of European collaboration leading to the development of a new tactical combat aircraft and the date by which the aircraft should be brought into service.
§ Mr. PattieDiscussions have been taking place with France and Germany to establish whether there is a basis for a collaborative solution to meet the nations' requirements for a tactical combat aircraft. The industries of the three countries are now involved and, when their Defence Ministers met in Hamburg earlier this month to review progress on collaborative projects, the tactical combat aircraft was an important topic of discussion.
The Royal Air Force needs an aircraft to enter service in about 1990.