Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence and Equipment Plan 2019-2029, published on 27 February 2020, for what reasons the cost of the UK's 5 E-7 Wedgetail AWACS has increased by from £1.51 billion to £2.16 billiionn since the announcement of the purchase of that aircraft in March 2019.

The cost of the acquisition of the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft has not increased. The figure of £1.51 billion relates to the value of the aircraft procurement contract, whereas the figure of £2.16 billion refers to the approved project costs, the scope of which covers more than just the acquisition of the aircraft including work on infrastructure and training and on future support/sustainment, hence the larger amount.