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Written question asked by Douglas Chapman (Scottish National Party) on Tuesday, 21 March 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 March 2017. It was answered by Harriett Baldwin (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 March 2017 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


F-35 Aircraft

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for the financial decisions detailed in figure 11, page 36 of the National Audit Office report, Delivering Carrier Strike, published on 16 March 2017, for (a) additional equipment and training to allow US F-35B jets to fly from UK carriers and vice versa, (b) sufficient weapons stockpiles for CEPP platforms, (c) tactical datalinks for intra-task group operations and (d) further development of the F-35B Lightning II computer system.

Answer

Decisions on funding for all aspects of the Carrier Enabled Power Projection programme will be taken at the appropriate time within the Defence annual budget cycle.

We have plans to meet an initial operating capability and a full operating capability. It would not be prudent to comment on specifics for reasons of safeguarding national security and the commercial interests of the Ministry of Defence.

With a projected life of 50 years, we expect to develop our Carrier Strike capability incrementally over time.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
68698
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Weapons Technology Aircraft carriers F-35 aircraft
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk