Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of Royal Air Force aircraft are flying beyond their initial design service life.
The RAF does not fly its aircraft beyond the recommended lifetime of the main airframe for safety reasons.
However, to ensure we get the maximum benefit from the investment in our aircraft fleets and that they remain fit for continued frontline service in an increasingly technological and dangerous world, it is routine for aircraft fleets to be subject to upgrades and life extension programmes.