RAF

MoD Defends Fast Jet Collision Avoidance Policy

The Ministry of Defence has strongly defended its collision avoidance policy, after reports that most RAF fighter jets haven't been fitted with a safety system.

Under half of British Tornado GR4s are believed to have a traffic collision avoidance system (TCas), despite a government pledge to install them nearly 20 years ago.

None of the RAF's 131 Typhoons have the technology fitted, which helps prevent mid-air crashes with passenger aircraft, and the F-35s that have been ordered will not either.

Angus Robertson, Scottish National Party MP for Moray, has described the situation as "a complete disgrace", while Shadow Defence Secretary Emily Thornberry has said fitting the UK's fighter jets with CWS "should be a top priority for the government." She added:

"The MoD has the technology to bring these planes up to date by fitting them with collision warning systems. Why hasn't it done so?"

But an MoD spokesperson told Forces Network that simply installing TCas, a type of electronic collision warning system (CWS), wouldn't remove the threat of air-to-air collisions.

"Millions of military and civilian flights are made in UK airspace each year with only a very small number of air proximity reports being made, of which even less identify that the safety of our aircraft may have been compromised, underlining the professionalism of commercial, military and private aviators," he said.

"Whilst the introduction of a CWS will add an additional layer of safety; avoidance of collision in the air cannot be purely reliant on this equipment alone. "

He went on to argue that because TCas can't help avoid collisions against most civilian aircraft, a more "comprehensive approach" is needed, and used already:

"Avoidance of collision in the air cannot be purely reliant on equipment of any sort as the majority of civilian GAT [General Aviation Traffic] do not operate Mode S transponders (on which TCas operates) therefore, collision avoidance equipment does not work against this type of aircraft, that is why the MOD will continue to follow a comprehensive approach.

"The introduction of a CWS / TCAS is not and never will be a panacea for avoiding air collisions."

"This is why a multi-layered approach continues to be required incorporating; de-confliction planning, extensive flying supervision, sound airmanship, use of a variety of equipment fitted to aircraft to aid situational awareness, employment of suitable air traffic radar services and also an effective lookout from the aircrew to “see and avoid” each other."

He added that the 42 Tornado GR4s to have been fitted with TCAS are believed to be the first existing combat fast jets in the world to have had a CWS installed and that RAF Typhoons could also get them in the near future.

The F-35 Lightning II, meanwhile, will not have a dedicated air collision avoidance system, although the MoD stressed that it will possess technology that will provide the pilot with comprehensive Situational Awareness (SA) and a Ground Collision Avoidance System.

According to the Military Aviation Authority (MAA), there have been over 50 mid-air collisions involving RAF jets in the past 35 years, with more than 55 lives lost.

The MAA recommended three years ago that a "comprehensive plan" be put in place to fit a CWS on military aircraft, after a report into a mid-air collision between two Tornado jets blamed "financially driven decisions" for the aircraft not having the system.

The MoD would not comment, meanwhile, on reports that the head of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, warned Defence Secretary Michael Fallon that Typhoons could crash into passenger aircraft because the fighters have not been fitted with a CWS.