RAF A2A Engagements questioned by SNP Minister

[TheWizard]

Can't think of any real reason for this being asked in the House unless Angus Robertson is a numbers collector?
Were there no BVR engagements in Granby or Telic?

Hansard/They Work For You

[Cows getting bigger]

He's been listening to Sharkey.

[Martin the Martian]

Questioning whether the future Scottish Air Force need fighters equipped with BVR armament?

[OilCan]

Somebody has pointed to some weakness in his defense plan.

He'll be asking about radars next.

[engineer(retard)]

Or maybe he has just noticed Raytheon are in Scotland and might have to move south in case of independence. The same SNP defence spokesman that complained of "contracts for the fast jets going to France".

[Not_a_boffin]

Robertson has been banging away for some time on F35 VFM, some of which is predicated on its ability to win a BVR (vice a close-in visual) engagement.

Anyone would think he'd been reading (or been fed) those reports that suggest F35 is a bit less manoeuvrable than an F16........

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Since he has demanded a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the 2 Tornados which crashed in the Moray Firth, then he is probably leading into what DMB decided to spend money on instead of the CWS they said they would buy back in '98. F35 could also be a possibility.
He already knew very well what the answer would be, hence the choice of 30 years in the question.

[Roadster280]

It's a bit of a broken process whereby an Opposition MP can ask a ministerial question, and then use that official reply to beat the minister/other government department up about something only tenuously connected. One might use the negative reply to justify an assertion that the money would have better spent on hospitals/education/protected newts/dole.

A bit like PMQs where the 1st question relates to the PM's diary and then the follow ups are an unconnected political ambush.

No wonder politicians are poorly thought of.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

The problem is the Government (whatever party)
Only by asking a written question can they force the Government to actually answer the question.
If Ministers were obliged to give answers in debate, rather than bull**** or dodging the question as they almost universally do, then written questions could be reserved for their proper purpose.
Ministers could be pre-advised of factual matters on which they will be questioned in debate, to allow proper time for response from departments.

[Roadster280]

Good points; agreed.

[Onceapilot]

Del, greatest air to air risk in Telic was, a mid-air!

OAP

[ORAC]

Or maybe he has just noticed Raytheon are in Scotland and might have to move south in case of independence.

Raytheon HQ is in the USA; Raytheon UK HQ is in London; the military divisions are scattered around Farnborough, Portsmouth, Waddington and other points south. Glenrothes specialises in high Temperature silicon carbide chips and other civil integrated electronics components - a world leader but not a market where independence would instantly force the American HQ to relocate it south - frankly I doubt the staff would move.

Better off looking at companies like Marconi whose Avionics Radar and Countermeasure Systems is based in Edinburgh and, amongst other things, is responsible for the Typhoon ECR90 radar.....

[JFZ90]

Better off looking at companies like Marconi whose Avionics Radar and Countermeasure Systems is based in Edinburgh and, amongst other things, is responsible for the Typhoon ECR90 radar.....

Their portfolio is impressive when other projects are included - notably F35. I guess the infrastructure of what is basically an avionics company is reasonably mobile, even the production facilities - its the people that might not want to move, but then again perhaps the dedication and interest in the technology might be enough.

I wonder what points the SNP are looking to score. You can be sure they aren't likely to be wanting to praise recent defence policies or acquisition decisions!

[XR219]

Better off looking at companies like Marconi whose Avionics Radar and Countermeasure Systems is based in Edinburgh and, amongst other things, is responsible for the Typhoon ECR90 radar.....

Must have been a while since you were in Edinburgh
Marconi is now Selex ES, and ECR90 is now Captor!

(Good point though! )

[flyingbanana]

Most of the work carried out at Selex-es Edinburgh is secret UK Eyes only,rumor has it most(all?) of the work would head back down south of the border?