HC Deb 27 November 1984 vol 68 c411W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Air Force are satisfied that the SNECMA M-88 engine will give the proposed European fighter aircraft the thrust/weight ratio the Royal Air Force require.

Mr. Butler

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 10 July at column448–49, which made clear that Ministers have agreed in principle on the need for a new advanced fighter engine to be developed and produced for the European fighter aircraft and that current designs would not be suitable.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the proposed European fighter aircraft that the chiefs of staff have agreed upon will have the required radius of action for operations on the central front.

Mr. Butler

The European staff target, signed on October 11, takes into account the requirement to operate on the central front.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of jobs that the proposed European fighter aircraft is expected to provide to British Aerospace.

Mr. Butler

Entry into the European fighter aircraft programme would result in considerable work for the British aerospace industry, but it is too early to quantify this in terms of jobs.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft the Royal Air Force will require of the proposed European fighter aircraft.

Mr. Butler

It would be premature to quote numbers at this stage.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the 9.5 tonne weight specification agreed to by the chiefs of staff for the proposed European fighter aircraft would enable the aircraft to carry the RB-199 engine and still carry out its specified roles.

Mr. Butler

The mass of the aircraft is the subject of current studies. So far as the engine is concerned, I have explained in my reply to one of the hon. Member's earlier questions today that current designs would not be suitable.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the estimated cost of the proposed European fighter aircraft.

Mr. Butler

It is premature to speculate, I would not expect to have reliable cost estimates until the end of a project definition phase.