1-20 of 136 results for subject:Sonar
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to improve the sonar capabilities of the Royal Navy surface fleet.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to improve the sonar capabilities of the Royal Navy surface fleet.
The Defence Innovation Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Spearhead Programme has focussed on accelerating the Navy's understanding of advanced capabilities. Key areas progressed include sensor optimisation, machine learning and artificial intelligence, to improve the sonar capabilities within the surface fleet.
Investment in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Sonar 2087 system has led to improvements to Type 23 capabilities. These improvements will also be pulled through to the Type 26 programme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to box 12 page 105 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in developing acoustic detection systems (a) powered by artificial intelligence and (b) integrated into the digital targeting web.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to box 12 page 105 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in developing acoustic detection systems (a) powered by artificial intelligence and (b) integrated into the digital targeting web.
Atlantic Bastion is a portfolio of programmes to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and in support of NATO against a range of underwater threats. It will develop a range of capabilities that enhance existing systems and deploy new platforms into the North Atlantic. It is separate from Baltic Sentry, which is a NATO led activity in the Baltic Sea to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure. The Royal Navy will be able to learn from Baltic Sentry and be able to share lessons from Bastion programmes with NATO allies.
Through AUKUS Pillar 2, the nations are working together on an algorithm to support Maritime Patrol Aircraft processing systems. This work will inform future capability development of Bastion systems powered by AI to enhance acoustic detection.
Capability options under Atlantic Bastion are submitted for consideration in the Defence Investment Plan. Options for capabilities that would be deployable from the Type 26 Frigate Force are included in these options.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consideration his Department has given to the future security, sustainability and capacity of the supply chain for sonobuoys used by the Royal Air Force.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consideration his Department has given to the future security, sustainability and capacity of the supply chain for sonobuoys used by the Royal Air Force.
The RAF has a robust mechanism for procurement of sonobuoys but continues to investigate alternative options to ensure supply chain resilience.
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I think I wrote to her last in November of last year on that issue. I am afraid we have not moved on yet and we are still studying exactly what radar configurations will be required, but it is actively being looked at and I certainly commit to updating her when I can give her an assurance one way or the other.
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I think I wrote to her last in November of last year on that issue. I am afraid we have not moved on yet and we are still studying exactly what radar configurations will be required, but it is actively being looked at and I certainly commit to updating her when I can give her an assurance one way or the other.
As a member of the Scottish Affairs Committee, I had the pleasure of visiting Lossiemouth earlier this year. Leuchars airfield in my constituency is still maintained as a back-up site for operations. Given the current situation, can the Minister advise on sonar and radar upgrades? It is important that back-up facilities are also fit for purpose.
As a member of the Scottish Affairs Committee, I had the pleasure of visiting Lossiemouth earlier this year. Leuchars airfield in my constituency is still maintained as a back-up site for operations. Given the current situation, can the Minister advise on sonar and radar upgrades? It is important that back-up facilities are also fit for purpose.
As a member of the Scottish Affairs Committee, I had the pleasure of visiting Lossiemouth earlier this year. Leuchars airfield in my constituency is still maintained as a back-up site for operations. Given the current situation, can the Minister advise on sonar and radar upgrades? It is important that back-up facilities are also fit for purpose.
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I think I wrote to her last in November of last year on that issue. I am afraid we have not moved on yet and we are still studying exactly what radar configurations will be required, but it is actively being looked at and I certainly commit to updating her when I can give her an assurance one way or the other.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2022 to Question 100453 on Maritime Patrol Aircraft: Procurement, whether the whole life cost figure includes US-furnished (a) torpedo systems and (b) sonobuoys.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2022 to Question 100453 on Maritime Patrol Aircraft: Procurement, whether the whole life cost figure includes US-furnished (a) torpedo systems and (b) sonobuoys.
The whole life cost figure includes initial provision of Mk54 torpedoes and sonobuoys.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when (a) UK torpedoes and (b) UK sonobuoys will be cleared for use for the P-8.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when (a) UK torpedoes and (b) UK sonobuoys will be cleared for use for the P-8.
The RAF Poseidon MRA1 was delivered in the same configuration as that operated by the US Navy which enables a swifter introduction to service, economies of scale and interoperability with close allies. We envisage that once the aircraft has reached full operating capability and there has been time to study the optimal utilisation model for the UK, the Department will be in a position to make decisions on future equipment configurations.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which manufacturer supplies the sonobuoys currently deployed by the UK's P-8 aircraft.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which manufacturer supplies the sonobuoys currently deployed by the UK's P-8 aircraft.
Sonobuoys for the Poseidon MRA1 are provided by ERAPSCO (Expendable Reliable Acoustic Path Sonobuoy Company), which is a joint venture between the manufacturers, Sparton and Ultra Electronics.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the Government's policy is on granting export licences for non-military sonar equipment to (a) China and (b) a third country where the purchaser is a Chinese registered firm.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the Government's policy is on granting export licences for non-military sonar equipment to (a) China and (b) a third country where the purchaser is a Chinese registered firm.
The Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, last updated in a Written Ministerial Statement on 25th March 2014, sets out the policy framework for assessing all export licence applications.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has signed contracts for (a) sonarbuoys, (b) harpoon anti-ship missiles and (c) Mark 54 Torpedoes systems on the RAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has signed contracts for (a) sonarbuoys, (b) harpoon anti-ship missiles and (c) Mark 54 Torpedoes systems on the RAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
The P-8A Poseidon aircraft is being procured under a Foreign Military Sale with the US Government. With Government-to-Government agreements, there are no contracts as such; parties enter into binding arrangements instead. In the case of P-8A Poseidon, the scope of this agreement covers aircraft acquisition, initial spares and support, initial training (in the USA), procurement of training devices and initial sonobuoy and weapons procurement.
I very much welcome the Ministry of Defence submarine sonar contract being awarded to Crawley-based Thales. Can my hon. Friend say a little more about the employment possibilities that the contract brings?
I very much welcome the Ministry of Defence submarine sonar contract being awarded to Crawley-based Thales. Can my hon. Friend say a little more about the employment possibilities that the contract brings?
This £330 million sonar and mast contract is indeed good news. It will secure or create highly skilled jobs in Thales in Scotland, Greater Manchester and Somerset—and 30, I am delighted to say, in the constituency of my hon. Friend and neighbour in Crawley.
This £330 million sonar and mast contract is indeed good news. It will secure or create highly skilled jobs in Thales in Scotland, Greater Manchester and Somerset—and 30, I am delighted to say, in the constituency of my hon. Friend and neighbour in Crawley.
This £330 million sonar and mast contract is indeed good news. It will secure or create highly skilled jobs in Thales in Scotland, Greater Manchester and Somerset—and 30, I am delighted to say, in the constituency of my hon. Friend and neighbour in Crawley.
I very much welcome the Ministry of Defence submarine sonar contract being awarded to Crawley-based Thales. Can my hon. Friend say a little more about the employment possibilities that the contract brings?
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is to refit Sandown-class minehunters with the Thales 2093 Wideband sonar system.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is to refit Sandown-class minehunters with the Thales 2093 Wideband sonar system.
The Sandown-Class Minehunters are currently undergoing a technical refresh programme, which will update the seven platforms with the Thales 2093 Sonar. The capability upgrade for the First of Class was successfully completed in September 2018. Future capability upgrades are aligned with individual ship's upkeep programmes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 July 2017 to Question 3174, how many sonobuoys for use on P-8 aircraft will be delivered to the RAF through the US Government's Foreign Military Sales programme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 July 2017 to Question 3174, how many sonobuoys for use on P-8 aircraft will be delivered to the RAF through the US Government's Foreign Military Sales programme.
The Foreign Military Sale case covers the initial provisioning of sonobuoys for the RAF P-8A maritime patrol aircraft. It also provides for further orders to be placed as the initial quantity is used and more aircraft join the RAF fleet.
The quantity of sonobuoys required and the rate at which they are used will depend on the number and types of operations in which the aircraft is involved. Therefore, it is not possible to say how many sonobuoys will be delivered through the Foreign Military Sale programme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate has been made of the cost of each sonobuoy that will be used by the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft once that aircraft comes into service.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate has been made of the cost of each sonobuoy that will be used by the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft once that aircraft comes into service.
As announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, the UK is investing in a fleet of nine P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, which are being procured via a Foreign Military Sale from the US Government. The Department cannot disclose cost information at this time as its release would prejudice our commercial interests although the sale does include initial sonobuoy provisioning.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what value of munitions and sonobuoys he expects his Department to purchase for use on the P-8A aircraft (a) in each year of the life of that aircraft, (b) from each country of manufacture and (c) of each product name; and if...
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what value of munitions and sonobuoys he expects his Department to purchase for use on the P-8A aircraft (a) in each year of the life of that aircraft, (b) from each country of manufacture and (c) of each product name; and if...
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 April 2016 to Question 33059 to the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (John Woodcock).
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the value of (a) UK and (b) foreign munitions and sonobuoys purchased for the UK's P-8A aircraft over the life of that aircraft by (i) year, (ii) country of manufacture and (iii) name.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the value of (a) UK and (b) foreign munitions and sonobuoys purchased for the UK's P-8A aircraft over the life of that aircraft by (i) year, (ii) country of manufacture and (iii) name.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 December 2015 to Question 19776 to the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle).
The Ministry of Defence has not yet made a final decision on the method for contracting for delivery of the P8-A Poseiden aircraft to the UK. Therefore the information requested is yet to be determined.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many 2087 sonar-fitted T23 Frigates were employed in the hunt for a suspected Russian submarine to the west of the United Kingdom this year.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many 2087 sonar-fitted T23 Frigates were employed in the hunt for a suspected Russian submarine to the west of the United Kingdom this year.
We do not discuss the detail of maritime operations as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research his Department has conducted or reviewed into the effect of military naval sonar on the navigation of whales and other cetaceans since 2004.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what research his Department has conducted or reviewed into the effect of military naval sonar on the navigation of whales and other cetaceans since 2004.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD), together with NATO and other international partners, is actively involved in developing knowledge of the effect that use of military sonar has on the marine ecosystem. Since 2008 it has used the Environmental Risk Management Capability (ERMC), a Decision Support Tool that utilises the underpinning research conducted over the past 20 years.
The MOD continues to fund relevant research including behavioural effects, marine mammal distribution, and marine mammal mitigation capability. The MOD also maintains a robust independent review process that ensures that relevant science is reviewed against the current ERMC practice and, where necessary, implemented. This ongoing process is supported by leading independent marine science organisations and the Government's Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Ministry of Defence has established a Royal Naval study team to establish the best way of using satellites, drones, passive sonar, helicopters and ships to fill or improve on the cover historically provided by large fixed-wing land-based aircraft.[HL2639]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Ministry of Defence has established a Royal Naval study team to establish the best way of using satellites, drones, passive sonar, helicopters and ships to fill or improve on the cover historically provided by large fixed-wing land-based aircraft.[HL2639]
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not established a Royal Navy study team for this purpose. However both Navy Command and Joint Forces Command are undertaking work studies to consider the use of small, medium and large manned platforms, hybrid air vehicles, unmanned aircraft systems and space assets to inform resource decisions ahead of and as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review planned for 2015. MOD is also planning to explore how rotary wing UAS might be used to fill a range of maritime roles when operating from a frigate or destroyer-sized vessel.