And more from the same...
Question
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence
(1) whether UK service personnel have served in the US to gain experience of handling and flying catapult-assisted take-off barrier arrested recovery aircraft;
(2) what the cost to the public purse has been of sending individuals to the US to gain experience of handling and flying catapult-assisted take-off barrier arrested recovery aircraft;
(3) how many (a) pilots, (b) service personnel and (c) civilian personnel have been trained to operate the catapult and arrestor gear as part of the conversion of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review;
(4) how much his Department has spent on training individuals to handle and fly CATOBAR aircraft.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
holding answer 26 March 2012
Two Royal Navy personnel from the aircraft handling specialisation have previously undertaken preliminary training with the United States Navy in the operation of catapult and arrestor gear aircraft operations. Seven Royal Navy pilots have also been trained to operate US Navy aircraft utilising catapult and arrestor gear, as part of the training programme for the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. No Royal Air Force or civilian personnel have taken part in such training programmes.
The costs associated with this training are currently being collated and I will write to the right hon. Member as soon as they are available.
Substantive answer from Peter Luff to Jim Murphy:
In my answer to your Parliamentary Question dated 23 April 2012 (Official Report, column 716W) about the training of Service personnel on aircraft carriers, I undertook to write to you about costs as soon as the information was collated. I regret that it has not been possible to compile the information in the time allowed before prorogation, but I will write to you as soon as it is available.
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Question
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which fast jets operated by other nations will be able to land and take off from a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier operating STOVL.
Answer
Gerald Howarth (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (International Security Strategy), Defence; Aldershot, Conservative)
Based on the analysis undertaken prior to the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, which the US Marine Corps and Italy plan to acquire, would be able to land and take off from a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier operating STOVL.
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Question
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to restore carrier strike capability.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
As we announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, it is the Government’s intention to restore a Carrier Strike Capability around 2020.
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Question
Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the number and names of aircraft carriers operated by other nations that the (a) Hornet fast jet, (b) F35B and (c) Rafale fast jet is able to land on and take off from with a full weapon load.
Answer
Peter Luff (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology), Defence; Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
The Ministry of Defence is only able to comment on the current position in relation to carrier-based operations by other nations rather than the technical specifications of other nations’ capabilities. As of the end of February, the US Navy operates the Hornet from the Nimitz Class aircraft carriers; the F35B has operated from USS Wasp. The United States Marine Corps also intends to fly the F35B from United States Marine Corps decks. Italy is part of the F35B international programme, and intends to embark the aircraft on the Portaerei Cavour. Rafale operates from the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.