Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 12 of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2020-21 and its grading of the Crowsnest Programme as red, what assessment he has made of the viability of the Crowsnest AEW system.

The CROWSNEST Airborne Surveillance and Control system was graded as Red due to not meeting its approved Initial Operating Capability date. This assessment was based on timing rather than cost or performance standards.

The CROWSNEST programme has successfully delivered a baseline capability to support the Carrier Strike Group deployment in 2021. A full assessment of its performance will take place once the operational deployment of CSG21 concludes.