Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made on the timetable for a final decision being made on the inclusion of international partners in the Future Combat Air System programme.
Our approach to the Future Combat Air System programme is international by design, helping us to strengthen global relationships, share expertise and cost and to develop a next generation capability that will meet future threats. Work to identify the optimal partnering arrangement is progressing at pace, so that we can build on this before the end of the Concept and Assessment Phase in 2024.