Written question asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil (Scottish National Party) on Monday, 26 October 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 28 October 2015. It was answered by Philip Dunne (Conservative) on Monday, 2 November 2015 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Radar: Hebrides Range

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for the replacement of radar capable of distinguishing between wind turbines and missiles at its Hebridean range.

Answer: Air space management and missile tracking activity at the Hebrides Test and Evaluation Range requires interaction between three local radar systems. A technical upgrade of one radar system was undertaken earlier this year including capability to potentially mitigate the detection of aircraft type targets from possible interference from wind turbines. In the next few years it is also planned to replace a second radar system, although on current plans this will not include capability to mitigate wind turbine interference. There are no plans to replace the third radar system which is not susceptible to interference from wind turbines.

Secondary information