Witnesses: Ministry of Defence
Inquiry
Following the conclusion of its first inquiry into aviation
procurement, the Committee is now launching a new follow-on
inquiry which will focus on future aviation capabilities. The
Committee welcomes written evidence on any or all of the topics
below, to be submitted by Monday 23 October:
Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP):
- What will be the key challenges in delivering GCAP’s aim to
deliver a 6th generation combat aircraft by 2035, and what should
the MoD be doing now to address them?
- What lessons can be learnt from previous large
multilateral defence programmes such as Typhoon?
- How can the MoD ensure that GCAP attracts and retains
political and public support over the next decade?
- With full-scale production of the new aircraft not expected
to be underway until the 2030s, how can the MoD and industry
ensure that an appropriately skilled workforce is retained in the
interim?
Rotary wing
- What are the reasons for, and the implications of, delays to
the New Medium Lift helicopter procurement?
- Is planned investment across the rotary wing fleet
appropriately balanced to deliver the capabilities required?
Advanced jet trainer
- With the Hawk T2 expected to leave service in 2040, and
synthetic training becoming increasingly prevalent, how should
the MoD approach the procurement of its next advanced jet
trainer?
Munitions
- What is your assessment of the MoD’s vision, strategy and
planning of future airborne weapons systems across the combat
fleet?
- Is the air mobility fleet suitably equipped for the transport
of such weapons?
Defence industrial
strategy
- How can the MoD ensure that these procurements best
contribute to a sustainable and thriving defence industrial base,
by building and maintaining appropriately skilled, effective and
active defence manufacturing teams?
- How should exportability be built into these programmes from
the outset, and what should the MoD, and the Government more
broadly, be doing to maximise their export potential?
