Ministry Of Defence And Raf Nimrod Fleet

EDM number 101 in 2008-09, proposed by Nicholas Winterton on 03/12/2008.
Categorised under the topic of Defence equipment and procurement.

That this House expresses its concern about the future of the BAE Systems Woodford production plant and aerodrome bordering the Macclesfield constituency and the Ministry of Defence's Project Helix decision to replace three Nimrod R1 aircraft with US RC-135 Rivet Joint Boeing jets instead of the MRA4, nine of which are being assembled at Woodford; notes that 400 million had been budgeted for the Helix Programme with the decision on the future of the United Kingdom's large aircraft capability centring on two options, first to upgrade and modify the existing airframe and, secondly, to use the new MRA4 platform; further notes that while BAE Systems would be involved in both options, the Woodford plant would only benefit from the commissioning of the MRA4 platform; recognises that BAE Systems considers the cost of revamping the R1 fleet to be a lot greater than using the MRA4 platform; acknowledges that BAE Systems' experience demonstrates that there is considerable risk in stripping down aeroplanes, with projects often incurring extreme cost and time overruns; further recognises that the MRA4 option continues to give the RAF the best capability, best in-service date and best value for money for HM Exchequer; and notes with deep concern that due to the current state of the defence budget the RAF plans, at a cost of 700million, to replace three 35 year old Nimrod R1 aircraft based at RAF Waddington, near Lincoln, with even more antiquated US RC-135 Boeings, which entered service with the US Air Force 46 years ago.

This motion has been signed by a total of 22 MPs.