Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 30 April (HL3303), in the absence of a suitable equipped aircraft for observation flights, how they carry out or participate in such flights; and whether they have plans to acquire a new Open Skies airframe equipped with the latest authenticated sensor technology.
Since 2008 the UK has not possessed any Open Skies capable aircraft. Instead, the UK hires Open Skies aircraft from other participating States in order to conduct its missions. This continues to be assessed to be the most cost effective way of delivering the capability for the UK. There is currently no intention to procure an Open Skies aircraft for the future.