Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Deferred
Department actively pursuing solutions to F-35 limitations, accelerating weapon integration and international assessment
Recommendation
The Department told us that it had plans to tackle these limitations. It is seeking opportunities within the global programme to accelerate the integration onto the F-35 of Spear 3 and Meteor, its preferred air to air weapon. The Joint Programme Office, which runs the global programme, has invited the UK programme to include a UK weapon in its so-called digital accelerator which it hopes will speed up delivery. In the meantime, the Department told us that as part of its Defence Investment Plan it is considering buying other weapons that are already available and integrated.28 It also told us that it is working with Italy to measure the stealth characteristics of UK aircraft, although this arrangement only accounts for two aircraft per year.29
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation and states that the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan will set out the government’s approach to delivering the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and the investments required to deliver the Integrated Force. This will provide details of the government’s balance of investment across the full range of military capabilities, including the capability requirement identified by the Committee.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
2a. PAC recommendation: The Department should set out in the Defence Investment Plan how it will ensure a standoff capability in the coming years before Spear 3 is fully integrated onto the aircraft. 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: November 2027 2.2 The forthcoming Defence Investment Plan will set out the government’s approach to delivering the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and the investments required to deliver the Integrated Force. This will provide details of the government’s balance of investment across the full range of military capabilities, including the capability requirement identified by the Committee.