Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total cost of the operation of the Red Arrows display team visit to the United States of America, and whether it is funded in total or in part by the American government.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The cost of the tour is currently estimated at £1.6 million. This cost will be met primarily from the Red Arrows' existing flying hours allocation for the Financial Year 2026-27. A proportion of these costs would have been incurred irrespective of the US tour, as the Red Arrows would have continued to meet their display commitments in the UK.

The United States Government has not contributed funding towards the tour.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many aircraft, specifying the type, and how many personnel have been deployed as part of the Red Arrows display team visit to the United States of America.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Eleven Hawk T Mk 1 aircraft and 117 personnel have been deployed to the United States of America as part of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (the Red Arrows).

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the rise in the price of tungsten is impacting the UK defence industry.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is aware of increases in global tungsten prices and continues to monitor developments in critical mineral markets. Tungsten is used in a range of defence and industrial applications, including specialist components, advanced materials and manufacturing tooling. The Ministry of Defence is working with the Department for Business and Trade along with other departments to improve understanding of demand for critical minerals, including tungsten and assess the implications of international market developments.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend occasional visits by warships exercising their right of innocent passage, such as that by HMS Medway to Puerto Arenas in Chile, and elsewhere, to continue.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Royal Navy will continue to deploy warships globally in support of the United Kingdom’s defence, security and international engagement objectives. Royal Navy vessels routinely exercise their navigational rights in accordance with international law, including the right of innocent passage where applicable, and undertake port visits and defence engagement activities with allies and partners around the world.

Recent examples of Royal Navy global deployments include HMS Medway operating in the South Atlantic, HMS Trent conducting security and defence engagement activity in the United States and the Caribbean, HMS Spey and HMS Tamar maintaining the United Kingdom's persistent Indo-Pacific presence, and the UK Carrier Strike Group led by HMS Prince of Wales undertaking operations with NATO Allies in the North Atlantic and High North. These activities demonstrate the routine global nature of Royal Navy deployments in support of defence, security and international engagement objectives.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Coaker on 16 July (HL1645), whether any aircraft other than the 11 Hawk were deployed for transport, spares and support; and how all personnel were transported.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The 117 personnel deployed to the United States of America as part of the Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team were transported through a mix of military support aircraft, primarily A400M, and civilian aircraft. No other aircraft were deployed for the duration of the tour.