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.

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.