Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2014, Official Report, column 142, on military aircraft, what the main capabilities are which any future military patrol aircraft will need to possess; whether such capabilities will include (a) surveillance capabilities against (i) sub-surface, (ii) surface and (iii) land targets, (b) attack capabilities against each of those types of targets, (c) command, control and intelligence-gathering capabilities and (d) maritime rescue capabilities; and when a final decision will be taken on the mix of capabilities which will be required on a future maritime patrol aircraft.

The Air intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and
reconnaissance (ISTAR) Optimisation Study (AIOS) is designed to inform decisions on how future Air ISTAR capability, including Maritime Patrol Aircraft, could be delivered. The study is ongoing and activity in the coming months will consider capability requirements and priorities against a range of policy driven scenarios. The AIOS is one of a number of ongoing strands on analysis that will contribute to the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.