Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent progress they have made on the Zephyr High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite programme, following the reported mishaps in 2019.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is sponsoring a High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) Operational Concept Demonstrator (OCD) utilising the Airbus Defence and Space (ADS) Zephyr platform to explore the utility of this cutting edge and novel technology.
There are always setbacks when you push the boundaries of technology to explore future concepts. The unfortunate incidents in 2019 led to investigations being carried out by the relevant authorities and ADS have taken the findings and implemented improvements. ADS planned to demonstrate these improvements during the HAPS OCD this summer, but trials have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The MOD continue to work with Airbus to progress the OCD and to identify further opportunities for demonstration in order to fully explore the utility of HAPS.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Goldie on 18 June (HL5486), whether it is their policy not to answer questions about the deployment of RAF Reaper drones; and if so, when this policy was agreed.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
There is no policy to not answer questions about the deployment of RAF REAPER drones. However, there is a long standing policy not to comment on operational matters where the disclosure of information would increase the risk to intelligence and operational security.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Watchkeeper airframes are currently in-service; and how many have (1) undertaken flights in the past 12 months, and (2) been in storage for longer than 12 months.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
45 Watchkeeper airframes were in service as at 23 July 2020. 13 have flown in the past 12 months and 23 have been in storage for longer than 12 months. Of those flying, 10 have been operated by the Army from Akrotiri in Cyprus and Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, three have been used for test and evaluation. The airframes in storage are held at specific, graduated, levels of readiness. This is commensurate with practices used on other Defence capabilities and assets.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Ministry of Defence’s proposal to fly Protector drones within UK airspace, which government body is responsible for addressing safety concerns regarding this proposal; and how are those safety considerations being assessed.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Final authorisation for the Protector to fly within UK domestic airspace rests with the Civilian Aviation Authority (CAA). However, the RAF's Aviation Duty Holder is responsible for ensuring the aircraft is operated safely in accordance with Military Aviation Authority regulations.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government who will give the final authorisation on whether Protector drones are permitted to fly within UK domestic airspace.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Final authorisation for the Protector to fly within UK domestic airspace rests with the Civilian Aviation Authority (CAA). However, the RAF's Aviation Duty Holder is responsible for ensuring the aircraft is operated safely in accordance with Military Aviation Authority regulations.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of Protector drone flights on the British public, particularly in and around the area covered by the airspace change proposal initiated by the Ministry of Defence in Enabling Remotely Piloted Air System Operations Out of RAF Waddington.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
In developing its Air Change Proposal, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is following the CAP1616 process as mandated by the Civil Aviation Authority with respect to any air space changes within the UK.
Currently, the exact dimensions of the airspace required are not yet known as the Air Change Proposal has yet to enter the design phase. Once the proposed dimensions are known, CAP1616 prescribes how stakeholder and public consultations are to take place.
The MOD expects to carry out a full consultation with communities within any potentially affected areas in the summer of 2021. This will provide an opportunity for the public to offer their views on the proposal.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when local people likely to be affected by the airspace change proposal initiated by the Ministry of Defence in Enabling Remotely Piloted Air System Operations Out of RAF Waddington, including those in (1) Nottingham, (2) Mansfield, (3) Scunthorpe, (4) Grimsby, (5) Grantham, and (6) Boston, will have an opportunity to engage in a consultation on the proposal.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
In developing its Air Change Proposal, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is following the CAP1616 process as mandated by the Civil Aviation Authority with respect to any air space changes within the UK.
Currently, the exact dimensions of the airspace required are not yet known as the Air Change Proposal has yet to enter the design phase. Once the proposed dimensions are known, CAP1616 prescribes how stakeholder and public consultations are to take place.
The MOD expects to carry out a full consultation with communities within any potentially affected areas in the summer of 2021. This will provide an opportunity for the public to offer their views on the proposal.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether forthcoming Protector drones operating out of RAF Waddington or other RAF military bases will undertake any live fire exercises within UK territory.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Once the RAF's Protector has achieved Full Operational Capability, it is planned that, as with other military aircraft, it will conduct live firing training within existing UK Air Weapons Ranges.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made on (1) the 'Mosquito' project, (2) the 'Many Drones Make Light Work' programme, and (3) other work to network-enabled or ‘swarm' drones; and when they anticipate such network-enabled drone capability to be operational.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Project Mosquito is a technology demonstration being conducted in two phases. Phase 1 is complete, and the Ministry of Defence is currently evaluating the proposals for Phase 2. As Project Mosquito is a technology demonstrator, it is not anticipated that the project will result in an operational capability.
The Many Drones Make Light Work project explores the technical feasibility and military use of a swarm of up to twenty small unmanned aircraft vehicles, operating under the control of one individual. The project is in its final phase, Phase 3, delivering a structured flight evaluation programme of this new capability with the successful first trials held in March 2020.
The Royal Air Force's swarming drones project continues to be developed by the Rapid Capabilities Office with progress during recent trials exceeding expectations in several areas. Following the successful first trials, 216 Squadron was reformed at RAF Waddington on 1 April 2020. They will take on the operating role for the RAF's fleet of network enabled drones.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether RAF Reaper drones have been used for operations outside of Operation Shader over the past 12 months; and if so, for what purpose they were used and where.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
REAPER is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform. We do not comment on intelligence matters and I am therefore withholding the information as its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.