Aircraft (Hansard, 9 December 1992)

§ Mr. Menzies Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the development of a European maritime patrol aircraft.

§ Mr. Aitken
I understand that a number of European aircraft manufacturers, including British Aerospace, are conducting exploratory studies into a possible European maritime patrol aircraft. I would be happy to consider such an aircraft as a possible contender to meet our future requirements, were it to be available.

§ Mr. Menzies Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the United Kingdom will participate in the feasibility stage of the European future large aircraft.

§ Mr. Aitken
No. However, we will continue to follow developments on the project.

§ Mr. Menzies Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the United Kingdom's requirement for a replacement maritime patrol aircraft.

§ Mr. Aitken
My Department intends shortly to issue a request to industry for information, on possible means of upgrading the maritime patrol capability currently provided by the Nimrod MR2 aircraft. This will allow the identification of possible enhancements to, or replacements for, the present aircraft and their systems around the turn of the century. The responses to this request will enable my Department to assess possible solutions and establish which offers best value for money in meeting the requirement.

§ Mr. Menzies Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the need for the United Kingdom to acquire a replacement for the Hercules aircraft.

§ Mr. Aitken
My Department is currently assessing the need for a replacement for the Hercules aircraft against our future air transport requirements. It is out intention to procure any such replacement aircraft off-the-shelf.

§ Mr. Menzies Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the prospects for the European future large aircraft project following recent progress on the European fighter aircraft project.

§ Mr. Aitken
As my Department is not participating in the European future large aircraft project, we have made no assessment of its prospects following progress on EFA. We will, however, follow any developments.