Defence Minister Baroness Ann Taylor has today commented on a report published by the National Audit Office (NAO) into the Hercules C-130 Tactical Fixed Wing Airlift Capability.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness Taylor said:

"With over 40 flights a day, the Hercules successfully delivers essential equipment and personnel to the heart of our operations in hostile environments, with limited infrastructure and difficult climates.

"To boost our capacity for long range airlift we have procured two additional C17 aircraft which will free up the Hercules to concentrate on the shorter flights within theatre.

"Working closely with industry we are turning around upgrades to communications systems and defensive aids with the minimum delay and minimum impact to operations."

The NAO report acknowledges that:

- MOD is meeting its operational commitments for tactical airlift and the purchase of two additional C17 aircraft will boost our capacity for long-range airlift.
- Hercules aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan are exceeding their expected levels of availability on operations. Aircraft are available to fly planned missions 85 per cent of the time.
- MOD and Industry are turning around equipment upgrades with minimum delay and minimum impact on availability. Where possible upgrades are combined with scheduled maintenance to minimise the time an aircraft is out of action.
- MOD has improved the speed which spares are provided. In May 2006 we signed a contract with BAE, which is improving the availability of spares to maintain the operational tempo.
- The MoD has accepted the NAO's report and will be studying the recommendations in order to improve the present capability.

Source : UK MoD

With acknowledgements to UK MoD and ASD Network.