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<p>The Department has announced the intention to buy a further tranche of Lightning.
However, details including the delivery profile remain subject to negotiation.</p><p>Turning
to the CROWSNEST programme, which delivers Merlin Mk2 Airborne Surveillance and Control
to the Royal Navy (RN), I can confirm that the capability was accepted into service
in February 2021. CROWSNEST will fulfil the RN's organic Airborne Surveillance and
Control capability until its current out-of-service date in 2029, to be replaced by
a follow-on capability.</p><p>The Department continually assesses and reviews the
effectiveness of its capabilities to inform decisions about where resources should
be committed to treat the most pressing risks. The development of a successor to CROWSNEST
is designed to ensure the continued delivery of Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance
and Reconnaissance and Airborne Early Warning to the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) beyond
its planned out of service date, and will be coherent with both developments in Uncrewed
Air Systems, and other technologies maturing through the Future Combat Air System
and the RN's Future Air Dominance System.</p><p>Finally, regarding HMS PRINCE OF WALES
(PWLS), the UK maintains a Very High Readiness CSG whose planned and reactive deployments
can be adjusted to achieve His Majesty's Government's objectives. The department does
not comment on the detail or evolution of those plans, however, I can confirm that
we remain committed to ensuring PWLS commences her operational programme, as planned,
in Autumn 2023.</p>
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