House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Asked by George Kerevan
(East Lothian)
Asked on: 24 June 2015
Ministry of Defence
Military Aircraft
4190
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 23 June 2015 to Question 3244, what capabilities and specifications have been decided on for the next generation of RAF maritime reconnaissance aircraft; and which specific defence industrial organisations have made representations to his Department on the supply of aircraft or equipment to fulfil that role.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 02 July 2015
No decisions have yet been taken on the capabilities and specifications of any potential new maritime patrol aircraft. Such issues are typically resolved at a later stage in the procurement process and, as stated in my response to Question 3244, no decision has been taken to acquire an aircraft, this will be decision for the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
I am withholding information on the details of the defence industrial organisations that have made representations to the Department, as it’s disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
Asked by Mr Kevan Jones
(North Durham)
[N]
Asked on: 29 June 2015
Ministry of Defence
Future Large Aircraft
4583
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many safety tests of the A400m Atlas aircraft have been undertaken by his Department to date; and how many further such tests are scheduled over the next year.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 02 July 2015
The A400M development and production contract requires that Airbus undertake a comprehensive flight test programme to validate the safety of the A400M aircraft. The results of this test programme make a pivotal contribution to the safety certification of the A400M by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the A400M partner nations’ certification and qualification organisation. Although the Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not directly undertake A400M flight testing, MOD personnel and subject matter experts scrutinise and, with counterparts from other partner nations, confirm the validity of certification evidence, including the robustness of flight test evidence in supporting the A400M safety case.
In addition to the scope of the A400M development programme, there are a number of dedicated UK capabilities, such as UK parachutes and aerial delivery systems, which need to be cleared from a safety perspective on A400M. Consequently, the UK will commence its own testing of these dedicated capabilities, starting at the end of July 2015 and continuing until March 2018, to clear their release to service.