Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the procurement for the Royal Air Force's future fast-jet trainer for the Global Combat Air Programme.

The Royal Air Force is undertaking a capability investigation into the replacement of the current advanced jet trainer capability and combat aircrew training requirements for Typhoon, F-35 Lightning and the future Global Combat Air Programme, which is informing the Strategic Defence Review (SDR).

The nature of UK combat aircraft operation continues to transform, and future training requirements reflect this. Therefore, the capability investigation includes consideration of a training system that would combine live flying training, including with our air weapons range infrastructure, and networked virtual training through realistic simulation. This will ensure that we can continue to deliver a world class training capability. However, no decisions will be taken until after the SDR is completed.