Stuart Anderson MP has launched an inquiry into aviation procurement in the defence sector. The inquiry is part of his work on the influential Defence Select Committee in Parliament, which scrutinises the work of the Ministry of Defence. The two-part investigation will be examining whether plans set out by the Government will deliver the capabilities needed to respond to the changing security situation in Europe. It will cover the Royal Air Force as well as Air Arms in both the Royal Navy and the Army.
18,000 people are employed in the UK combat air sector, with tens of thousands more jobs in the wider supply chain. Last year, the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy made a commitment to strengthen aviation security. In October, a £175 million uplift was announced to the Military Flying Training System, which provides training for future military pilots qualified to operate the UK’s most advanced combat aircraft. As a result of this additional investment, basic flying training capacity will be increasing from a maximum of 36 to 53 students per year from 2024. Yet, concerns have been raised about whether this will effectively and rapidly resolve current capacity issues.
Questions also remain over whether the plans unveiled in the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper will deliver the required capabilities, combat mass, and interoperability. The inquiry will also be exploring the reasoning behind planned reductions to existing fleet, including the early retirement of Tranche 1 Typhoons and the scaling-back of commitments to purchase additional F35-B fighter aircraft. The Committee is asking for initial written evidence to be submitted by Friday, 6th May at https://committees.parliament.uk/work/6623/aviation-procurement/. A second, follow-on inquiry is expected to examine proposals for future capabilities, including the Future Combat Air System.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “I welcome the Government’s commitment to delivering an advanced combat air system that is capable of fighting in the most hostile of environments. It is in the national interest to ensure a sustainable and thriving aviation sector which can effectively respond to the changing security situation in Europe and the rest of the world. Our inquiry will examine whether Government plans will deliver the capabilities that are needed, firstly by focusing on the strategic context and then the sector’s long-term situation.”
Chair of the Defence Committee, Tobias Ellwood MP, said: “In this age of warfare, robust aviation capability is a core component of our Armed Forces and is essential to our readiness to respond to threats… We are standing at a critical juncture in our history. War is raging in Europe and investment in defence procurement is now more important than ever. This inquiry will assess our aviation capabilities and ask whether we are future-proofing our fleet.”