§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Future Offensive Air System; and if he will list the project milestones. [68509]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 3 February 1999]: The Future Offensive Air System will replace the capability currently provided by the Tornado GR fleet in the offensive support role in about twenty years' time. As confirmed in the Strategic Defence Review White Paper (Cmd 3999), a wide range of options to fulfil the FOAS requirement will continue to be examined, including manned aircraft, remotely piloted/unmanned air vehicles and cruise missiles. Feasibility studies into the various options are under way and continue to progress well.
Proposals for a technology acquisition programme are currently under consideration, leading to a project Assessment Phase commencing in 2001. To realise the benefits from advances in technology, and in line with Smart Procurement principles, decisions on the concepts to be taken forward as potential solutions to the FOAS requirements are unlikely to be taken for around ten years.