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Military Aircraft

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 17 March 2025UIN 36469

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential suitability of developing a capability similar to the USAF’s Light Attack Experiment to provide close air support in operations characterised by UK air dominance for the (a) Royal Air Force or (b) Army Air Corps.

Answered by Maria Eagle

The ongoing Strategic Defence Review is considering our combat air and Armed Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) force mix in an increasingly contested world.  The Protector RG (Reconnaissance/Ground-Attack) Mk1 is currently entering service to replace Reaper as the next generation Medium Altitude, Long Endurance - Remotely Piloted Air System - in the Armed ISTAR role.

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