HC Deb 03 July 2001 vol 371 cc96-7W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlay his decision to rename the future carrier borne aircraft programme the future joint combat aircraft programme. [1596]

Mr. Hoon

The previous future carrier borne aircraft (FCBA) title dated from the period before the 1998 Strategic Defence Review when the programme was envisaged as a Sea Harrier replacement only.

The decision to rename the FCBA programme as future joint combat aircraft acknowledges that Joint Force 2000 will operate from land bases as well as aircraft carriers. The name change also reflects ministerial signature in January this year of the UK/US memorandum of understanding which recognised that the joint strike fighter has the best potential to replace the current force of both Harriers and Sea Harriers.