Nimrod (Airborne Early Warning)

Mr. McNamara
asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will estimate the total cost required to get the mission system avionics for AEW Nimrod to an acceptable level of operation;(2) if he will estimate the total cost of airborne early warning Nimrod by the time of its planned deployment;(3) if he will make a statement on the future of the Nimrod early warning system.

Mr. Butler
I have little to add to the replies I gave the hon. Member on 24 May (Vol. 79, c. 601–602). A technical study of various options has been completed and is now being evaluated.

Mr. McNamara
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the cost to date of the airborne early warning Nimrod programme.

Mr. Butler
By the end of June this year some £831 million (at current prices) had been spent or committed on the Nimrod AEW project.