F-35 Aircraft: Spare Parts
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the length is of the UK's contract with the F35 global spare parts pool; and when that contract ends.
Answered by Maria Eagle
The UK Government does not have a contract with the F-35 global spares pool. The prime contractors for the F-35 programme, [the US companies Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney,] operate the F-35 global spares pool on behalf of the F35 programme, including the destination of specific spares and components.
The F-35 programme is a highly integrated programme, with the principle of cooperation lying at its heart.
If the UK Government were to withdraw from the F-35 global spares pool, it would effectively be withdrawing from the F-35 programme meaning that the UK would not be able to operate its F-35 fleet of aircraft.
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