§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations he is making to the US Administration to ensure that the US maintains its commitment to the Joint Strike Fighter project; [156335]
- (2) what recent discussions he has had with the US Defense Secretary on the Joint Strike Fighter project; [156334]
- (3) what estimate he has made of the number of UK jobs which will be created by the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft project; [156336]
- (4) what assessment he has made of the prospects for continuing with the Joint Strike Fighter project without US support; [156337]
- (5) what alternatives to the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft project his Department has assessed. [156338]
§ Mr. HoonThe importance that the UK attaches to the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme has been raised regularly with the United States Administration in UK/US ministerial meetings. I took the opportunity to reinforce this message with Secretary Rumsfeld during my recent visit to the US.
We estimate that up to 5,000 jobs may be created or sustained as a result of the UK's involvement in the next phase (Engineering and Manufacturing Development) of the JSF programme.
The alternative options considered by the UK to meet its future requirement were the US F/A18E, the French Rafale, a navalised version of the Eurofighter and an advanced Harrier variant.
The JSF is a US led project. I would not expect it to continue should the US Government decide to cancel it.