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24 Feb 2003 : Column 308W—continued
Sea Harriers
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent Naval FA2 Sea Harriers are capable of operating in an air defence role in the climatic conditions normally found in the Gulf. [98246]
Mr. Ingram: FA2 Sea Harriers of Joint Force Harrier are able to operate in the climatic conditions usually found in the Gulf. However, at hotter times of the year (between April and September) and dependent on the time of day of the operation, there are restrictions relating to the weight of ordnance the aircraft can bring back on vertical landing.
Strategic Tanker Aircraft
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to award a contract for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme; and what delays there have been to the originally forecast in-service date. [97187]
Mr. Ingram: Final bids for this prospective PFI project are expected from two consortia on 30 April 2003. We will be doing all that we can to down select a preferred bidder by the end of this year and aim to sign a contract by the end of 2004, although the precise timing will depend on a range of factors including a period of bankers' due diligence. We have delayed the planned introduction of the PFI service by one year from 2007 to 2008, to allow time for the PFI negotiations to be completed.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the MOD is expected to award a contract for the RAF's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft; how many aircraft will be commissioned; how they will be deployed; what the projected costs are; when the aircraft will come into service; what the length of the contract is; and if he will make a statement. [97493]
Mr. Ingram: Final bids for this prospective 27-year PFI contract are expected from two consortia on 30 April 2003. We will be doing all that we can to down select a preferred bidder by the end of this year and aim to sign a contract by the end of 2004, although the precise timing will depend on a range of factors including a period of bankers due diligence. The number of aircraft needed to meet our service-based requirement varies between the commercial solutions. However, a total fleet size of up to 20 aircraft is anticipated. Operational deployments will be undertaken under the Command and Control of the Royal Air Force. The project has an estimated through life value of around £13 billion and is scheduled to enter service in 2008.
Submarine Refits
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the S and T class submarines which (a) have completed, (b) are undergoing and (c) will in
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future undergo major upgrades together with the (i) completion and (ii) due completion dates in each case. [98241]
Mr. Ingram: Upgrades to S and T class submarines are generally undertaken during docking periods of maintenance lasting six months or during major refit and refuel periods lasting three years. These are known as Upkeep Periods. All S and T Class submarines will undergo a number of Upkeep Periods throughout their lives, and those whose last Upkeep Period included an upgrade, and which are not currently undergoing an Upkeep Period are:
| Submarine | Completion date(62) |
|---|---|
| HMS Splendid | Spring 1998 |
| HMS Superb | Summer 1998 |
| HMS Tireless | Summer 1999 |
| HMS Triumph | Winter 1999 |
| HMS Trafalgar | Summer 2000 |
| HMS Turbulent | Spring 2002 |
| HMS Sovereign | Autumn 2002 |
| HMS Torbay | Winter 2002 |
(62) Dates shown are when the submarine rejoined the fleet.
Submarines currently undergoing an Upkeep Period and upgrade are HMS Sceptre and HMS Spartan, both of which are due to rejoin the fleet by summer 2003 and HMS Trenchant, which is due to rejoin the fleet by autumn 2003.
The next planned refit and upgrade is that of HMS Talent which is expected to commence in spring 2003 and take approximately three years to complete including post refit trials and training. Details of Upkeep Periods beyond 2003 are classified, and I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to defence, security and international relations.
Swiftsure Class Submarines
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Swiftsure class submarines are non-operational; and for what reasons. [98248]
Mr. Ingram: Three Swiftsure Class submarines are currently non-operational. HMS Sceptre and HMS Spartan are both in the final stages of refit. They are shortly planned to undergo sea trials before formally joining the fleet later this summer. HMS Superb is currently undergoing a period of inspection before starting a planned maintenance period. She is expected to rejoin the fleet in the first half of 2004.
Technology Readiness Assessments
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the Technology Readiness Assessment of each of the candidate unmanned air vehicles for Watchkeeper; with which allied armed forces each of the candidate UAVs for Watchkeeper will be interoperable; which weapons are cleared for use from each of the candidate UAVs for Watchkeeper; how many of these have been used in combat; and if he will list the countries of origin of the candidate UAVs for Watchkeeper. [97192]
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Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's written statement to the House on 7 February 2003, Official Report, columns 21–22WS.
The Technology Readiness Assessment and the ability of the competitors to achieve a mature integration of the technology will feature as discriminators in choosing the final solutions. I am therefore withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 13 on the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to third party's commercial confidences.
There are many levels of potential UAV interoperability that require different degrees of compatibility of air vehicle, ground segment equipment and data links. To optimise UAV interoperability, the United Kingdom is contributing to the development, in association with our NATO allies, of standard UAV interfaces.
The United Kingdom has not cleared any weapons for use with the candidate UAVs for Watchkeeper. Current requirements for Watchkeeper do not call for the solutions to be able to carry weapons. The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any weapons being cleared, by any other nation, for use with those UAVs now being considered by the Watchkeeper programme. Neither are we aware of them having been used in combat.
Component parts of the candidate UAVs for Watchkeeper, including the ground segment, the on-board sensors and the air vehicles, have their design origins in a number of countries. The current candidate air vehicles are derived from designs with origins either in the US or Israel.
Trimaran Hulls
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment his Department has made of the suitability of trimaran hulls for future types of warship. [98237]
Mr. Ingram: A number of studies have been undertaken in recent years to examine the suitability of the trimaran hull form to meet future naval capability requirements. These studies have indicated significant potential advantages over more conventional hull forms for many naval roles. This led to the design and build of the 97 metre demonstrator RV Triton, which has recently completed an extensive and very successful trials programme. The data gathered will be shared with industry in support of possible trimaran solutions for future defence requirements.
Watchkeeper Competition
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement on the winner of the Watchkeeper competition; and for what reasons there has been a delay in the down select decision. [97191]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's written statement on 7 February 2003, Official Report, columns 21–22WS. We expect to select a single successful contractor for the demonstration and
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manufacture phase by mid-2004. Watchkeeper is a complex programme, involving the integration of aerial vehicles with a ground control segment and wider connectivity to future communication systems such as Bowman. Therefore it was important to ensure that those companies selected for the remainder of the assessment phase can deliver a solution that will meet our operational requirements, at price we can afford and within the required timescales. After initial assessment of the bids, we sought clarification on a range of issues from each of the four bidders in December 2002. The decision and subsequent announcement was then made as quickly as possible following receipt of each bidder's response to these additional points of clarification.
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