Asked by: Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party - Moray)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2015 to Question 221408, when the Interface Definition Documents were created and agreed; and who manages Boundary Control.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Installation of the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) II involves the integration of multiple Tornado GR4 aircraft systems. BAE Systems is managing this through a Weapon System Specification from which it has flowed down specific equipment specifications to the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The OEMs detail how they have met the specific equipment specification by providing a Declaration of Design Performance in a format specified by Panavia, the original manufacturer of the aircraft. BAE Systems manage boundary control.
TCAS II is cleared for use in Traffic Advisory mode on the operationally capable Tornado GR4 fleet.
It is planned that a minimum of 42 Tornado GR4 will be fitted with TCAS II.
It should be noted this is the first time ever a Collision Avoidance System has been fitted to a combat fast jet, anywhere in the world, that we know of.
Asked by: Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party - Moray)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2015 to Question 221408, whether (a) all currently modified Tornado GR4 aircraft and (b) those undergoing modification have TCAS II fitted with a fully operative Traffic Advisory mode which has been cleared for operational use.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Installation of the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) II involves the integration of multiple Tornado GR4 aircraft systems. BAE Systems is managing this through a Weapon System Specification from which it has flowed down specific equipment specifications to the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The OEMs detail how they have met the specific equipment specification by providing a Declaration of Design Performance in a format specified by Panavia, the original manufacturer of the aircraft. BAE Systems manage boundary control.
TCAS II is cleared for use in Traffic Advisory mode on the operationally capable Tornado GR4 fleet.
It is planned that a minimum of 42 Tornado GR4 will be fitted with TCAS II.
It should be noted this is the first time ever a Collision Avoidance System has been fitted to a combat fast jet, anywhere in the world, that we know of.
Asked by: Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party - Moray)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Tornado GR4 aircraft will have the TCAS II system installed.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Installation of the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) II involves the integration of multiple Tornado GR4 aircraft systems. BAE Systems is managing this through a Weapon System Specification from which it has flowed down specific equipment specifications to the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The OEMs detail how they have met the specific equipment specification by providing a Declaration of Design Performance in a format specified by Panavia, the original manufacturer of the aircraft. BAE Systems manage boundary control.
TCAS II is cleared for use in Traffic Advisory mode on the operationally capable Tornado GR4 fleet.
It is planned that a minimum of 42 Tornado GR4 will be fitted with TCAS II.
It should be noted this is the first time ever a Collision Avoidance System has been fitted to a combat fast jet, anywhere in the world, that we know of.
Asked by: Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party - Moray)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel are taking part in the Seedcorn programme; what the location is of each such person; and with what equipment such personnel are training.
Answered by Mark Francois
The number and location of personnel and equipment taking part in the Seedcorn programme are as follows:
Location | No of Seedcorn Personnel | Aircraft | |
Canada | Royal Canadian Air Force Greenwood | 4 | CP-140 Aurora |
New Zealand | Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Whenuapai | 4 | P-3K Orion/P-3K2 Orion |
Australia | Royal Australian Air Force base Edinburgh | 2 | AP-3C Orion |
United States | Naval Air Station Patuxent River | 9 | All P-8A Poseidon trained;
Additionally, for USN test purposes:
1 qualified on RQ-21A Blackjack UAV
3 trained on the MQ-4C Triton |
United States | Naval Air Station Jacksonville | 11 | P-8A Poseidon |
Asked by: Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party - Moray)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sorties the RC-135W ZZ664 flew from Al Udeid Air Base when it was stationed there; and what plans there are for another RC-135W aircraft to be stationed at that base.
Answered by Mark Francois
I am withholding the information as its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces
Asked by: Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party - Moray)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many C-130J aircraft are having external fuel tanks installed; what estimate he has made of the cost of that installation; and what the new range is of the aircraft without air-to-air refuelling.
Answered by Philip Dunne
External fuel tanks have been installed in nine C-130J aircraft at a cost of around £7 million. In addition to the advantage gained by an increased air-to-air refuelling capacity, the fitment of external fuel tanks has extended the range of the C-130J aircraft to around 3,000 nautical miles.
Asked by: Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party - Moray)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether personnel serving in the Seedcorn programme have had deployment with foreign armed forces extended.
Answered by Mark Francois
Yes, a number of short-term post extensions, varying from three to fifteen months, were agreed in 2013 and 2014.
Asked by: Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party - Moray)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of repairing Voyager KC2 ZZ331 after its collision with a hangar at St. John's International Airport; and what the cause of the collision was.
Answered by Mark Francois
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given, in the House of Lords, on 28 January 2015 to Question HL4147 by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) to the noble Lord, Lord Moonie.
Asked by: Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party - Moray)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his written statement of 20 January 2015, HCWS210, what progress has been made towards meeting the commitment made in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review to reduce the UK's overall nuclear warhead stockpile ceiling from not more than 225 to not more than 180 by the mid 2020s.
Answered by Michael Fallon
As set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, we will reduce the overall stockpile of nuclear warheads to no more than 180 by the mid 2020s. The Government does not comment upon the operational programme.
Asked by: Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party - Moray)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been paid annually by his Department to (a) AWE Management Ltd and (b) AWE plc under the Atomic Weapons Establishment management and operation contract for each year since 2000.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Management and Operations contract is with AWE Management Ltd (AWEML). As such, all payments are made to them and not AWE plc. AWE plc is the wholly-owned subsidiary of AWEML, responsible for the day-to day running of AWE.
The following table shows expenditure at AWE in each financial year since 2000-01, at outturn prices:
Financial Year | £ million |
2000-01 | 275 |
2001-02 | 264 |
2002-03 | 258 |
2003-04 | 286 |
2004-05 | 354 |
2005-06 | 493 |
2006-07 | 687 |
2007-08 | 894 |
2008-09 | 800 |
2009-10 | 870 |
2010-11 | 944 |
2011-12 | 941 |
2012-13 | 861 |
2013-14 | 961 |