§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which(a) present and (b) future Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm aircraft will be fitted with JTIDS; and at what cost. [59790]
§ Mr. IngramJoint tactical information and distribution system (JTIDS) capability is being fitted to Sea King AEW and Nimrod R and, on current plans, Eurofighter, Nimrod MRA4, ASTOR, A400M and the future strategic tanker will come into service fitted with this capability. The cost of fitting and supporting these aircraft is estimated to be of the order of £560 million. In the longer term, new aircraft types, such as the future joint combat aircraft, are expected to have this capability.