§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much(a) has been spent and (b) investment is planned on research and design of unmanned aerial vehicles. [158510]
§ Mr. IngramI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 November 2003, (Official Report, column 183W). The figures provided do not differentiate between "research" and "research and design" and the two terms are to be taken as synonymous in this context.
The Ministry of Defence considers that UAVs have the potential to make significant contributions to future operations and is in the process of assembling its future research programme in support of the development of UAV-based capabilities. The investment plans are still subject to refinement and confirmation.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether unmanned aerial vehicles will operate with(a) air squadrons and (b) the fleet air arm. [158514]
§ Mr. IngramWe expect Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to be a joint capability for the joint battlespace. By integrating them into the emerging military command and control digitised network they will support Network Enabled Capability (NEC). At this stage we envisage them operating primarily within the land environment but we are exploring the wider operational utility of UAV systems in the joint battlespace, including the maritime environment, through the Joint the UAV Experimentation Programme (JUEP). And under the Future Offensive Air System programme we expect to look at a potential mix of platforms, including Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), to meet our future strike capability from around the end of the next decade.