§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he proposes to transfer all modification work on Nimrod aircraft from Woodford to RAF Kinloss.
§ Mr. PattieNo. We expect an electronic support measures modification to be embodied in the last six aircraft being converted to the Nimrod MR Mk 2 standard at BAe, Woodford. However, we expect to contain the68W retrospective fit of this modification and the re-engineering of modifications done during Operation Corporate within the major servicing schedules to be carried out at RAF Kinloss.
Consideration is also being given to strengthening the MR Mk 2 wing and to some mid-life improvements. It is too early to say whether, if approved these will require aircraft to be returned to BAe Woodford.