Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

RAF Surveillance Aircraft

Monday 20 November 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister thanked Richard Foord for raising the importance of RAF surveillance aircraft in UK defence strategy.
  • Minister clarified that Rivet Joint aircraft are not supporting Israel but observing regional risks to inform UK MOD decisions.
  • Minister assured James Gray that current volcanic activity in Iceland does not pose a significant threat to aviation use of Keflavik airport.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth
Defence
Context

The question arises from the need to assess the strategic importance of RAF surveillance operations in maintaining national security.

Question

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of RAF surveillance aircraft on UK strategy and operations overseas?

Answer from James Heappey

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the work of the slightly less glamorous part of the Royal Air Force that does long-distance surveillance missions. They are an important part of the UK's defence strategy and our ability to monitor and observe what our adversaries are doing. Their work over the past year above the north Atlantic and the high north, the Baltic, the Black sea, the eastern Mediterranean and across the middle east has been central to defence operations. The team at RAF Waddington and at Lossiemouth should be congratulated.

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Q2 Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth
Defence
Context

The question stems from concerns about the operational specifics of UK surveillance activities in relation to international partners.

Question

We understand that UK surveillance assets such as Rivet Joint are providing surveillance support to Israel. I appreciate that, for reasons of operational security, the Minister cannot comment on the operational specifics of this activity, but will he rule out the possibility that these platforms are being used to support target acquisition?

Answer from James Heappey

While I was grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his initial question, he also gives me an opportunity to make an important clarification. Rivet Joint is not flying in support of Israel; it is flying to observe the risk of escalation in the region, to inform decision making in the UK MOD, and for nothing else.

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Q3 James Gray Con
Transport
Context

Concerns about the potential for Icelandic volcanic activity to disrupt air travel and, consequently, surveillance missions.

Question

Is my right hon. Friend concerned about the volcanic activity in Iceland at the moment? The P-8 regularly uses Keflavik airport near Reykjavik. Could that be interrupted by the threatened volcanic activity?

Answer from James Heappey

To the relief of people everywhere hoping for a Christmas getaway, I am told that this particular volcanic ash is not the same as that of last time and thus does not pose such a threat to aviation. However, we are, of course, monitoring it carefully and have contingencies.

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