§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to(a) replace and (b) upgrade the Tornado GR1 aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [18759]
§ Mr. IngramWe are continuing to upgrade the RAF's fleet of Tornado GR1 aircraft to GR4 standard. The GR4 has been in operational service with the RAF since June and to date 104 GR4s have been delivered.
The GR4 upgrade includes: Hand on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS); Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR); improved navigation and warning systems (LINS/GPS/GPWS). In addition, the GR4 is now able to deploy the all-weather interim precision guided bomb, as well as laser guided and unguided bombs. The upgrade also paves the way for the eventual integration of Storm Shadow, Brimstone and the Raptor reconnaissance pod on to GR4.
912WThe UK has a requirement to replace, towards the end of the next decade, the strike capability currently provided by the Tornado GR4 strike aircraft. This programme is known as the Future Offensive Air System (FOAS). While no decisions have yet been taken we are currently looking at a potential mix of platforms to deliver precision strike capability—including Long Range Cruise Missiles, Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicles and manned aircraft.