European Fighter Aircraft

HC Deb 05 May 1987 vol 115 cc360-1W

41. Mr. Jessel

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the European fighter aircraft project.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 22 April 1987 to the hon. Member For Blackburn (Mr. Straw).

44. Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the European fighter aircraft will make its first flight.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The EFA programme is at present in a period of definition refinement and risk reduction and the development programme has not yet been agreed. It is therefore too early to say when the first flight would be.

Mr. O'Neill

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when development work on the European fighter aircraft will commence.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The current international target date to begin full development of EFA is 1 August this year, but it is unlikely that all the relevant decisions in the four collaborating nations will have been taken by that date. The Government will reach a decision on the project when all the relevant information is available.