§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what air defence will be provided for the Royal Navy between 2007 and 2012. [72936]
§ Mr. IngramUnited Kingdom maritime forces normally operate as part of a Task Group, which protects itself against air attack through a series of "layered" defences. Task Groups typically include Type 42 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers and Type 22 and 23 Frigates equipped with air defence capability. Many other Task Group warships will also include air defence assets for self protection and decoy systems against air and surface launched anti-ship missiles. The Type 42 Destroyers will be replaced by the Type 45 Destroyers, fitted with the highly capable Principle Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS). The First of Class Type 45 Destroyer is planned to enter service from late 2007. The first upgraded AEW Sea King Flight will go to sea later this year and will provide a marked improvement in capability to detect airborne threats to the Task Group over both sea and land.