Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Crowsnest AEW systems are on order from Lockheed Martin; and what the total value is of those contracts.

CROWSNEST provides long range air, maritime and land surveillance, detection and tracking capabilities. It is intended to be delivered as role-fit to Merlin Mk2 helicopters, with all 30 Merlin Mk2s being modified to accept the role kit. Ten sets of the role kit are being procured.

In December 2016, the Ministry of Defence awarded a firm price contract worth £269 million (excluding VAT) to Lockheed Martin, which included demonstration and manufacture, and initial provisioning of spares. Thales UK are sub-contracted to provide the CROWSNEST Mission System and Leonardo Helicopters (UK) to provide integration to the Merlin helicopter. As a result of change requests and contract amendments the contract value now stands at £294 million (excluding VAT) which remains within the scope and budget of the Main Gate Business Case approval.