Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the commitments set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, what the forecast value is of his Department's future orders for (a) P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and (b) Apache AH-64E helicopters.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is procuring nine P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft under a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) arrangement with the US Government. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected in 2019. The estimated total cost is $3.2 billion. This figure includes the cost of the aircraft, and also encompasses initial support, training, sonobuoy and weapons provisioning, together with training devices.

The MOD is also purchasing 50 Apache AH-64E helicopters, also under a FMS arrangement with the US Government at an estimated cost of $2.3 billion. This figure includes an initial two-year support package, spares, training simulators and other supporting equipment for the helicopters.