Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to Written Statement of 9th October 2018, HCWS974 on Airborne Warning and Control System, what the planned timetable is for the decision on the E-7.

The current procurement approach enables the Ministry of Defence to undertake detailed discussions with the Boeing Company about the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft. This will include the specifics of its design, the likely numbers required and the timeline for delivery. The outcome of these discussions will help inform an Initial Gate Business Case, which will then determine the following stages. A robust timeline is being developed, but no details can be given at this stage.