§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further upgrade work will be undertaken on the Tornado F3 fleet; and what the planned cost is of this upgrade work. [59783]
§ Mr. IngramThe Tornado F3 fleet is currently undergoing or planned to undergo, a number of upgrade activities that will maintain the aircraft's operational capability for the remainder of its in-service life. The work comprises integration of secure communication equipment, a successor identification friend or foe system, an instrumentation enhancement to aid training and a programme to maximise the effectiveness of the advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM).
It is estimated that the total cost of these upgrade programmes will be approximately £125 million.