§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State For Defence which aeroengine he expects to see fitted to the new European fighter aircraft; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeThe four partner nations in the European fighter aircraft programme agreed in Turin last August that a new advanced fighter engine would he required for the aircraft. The national engine companies, who are shortly to form a joint consortium company to co-ordinate this activity, are currently preparing their proposals for the engine development programme as part of the project definition phase. The results will then be evaluated by the nations.
All four partner nations have agreed that it will be necessary to use an existing engine for early flight testing, introducing the new one when it becomes available. Decisions on the interim engine will be take at the end of the project definition phase; the United Kingdom favours the European RB199 engine.