MINISTRY DEFENCE OF OLDWAR OFFICEBUILDING SW1AzEU WHITEHALL LONDON

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FROilI:LORD BACH

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one fTornyour Thank you for your letter of 12 Januaryto Geoff Hoonenclosing withinthe Future ard ThalesAvionics theirinvolvement supporting Mr mnstituent, l(erhn, beoause I and FulureLynxprogrammes. am responding Tsrker Aircraft{FSTA} $trategic for of rnyresponsibility this issue. was consartium judgedto havethe best As you are elreadyaware,the AirTanker We are a prospectof delivering vafup'formoneyPFI solutionto the FSTArequirement. a aimedat concluding PFIdeal. with negotiations AirTanker nowtakingfonrvard uporrthe outputfrom a tri-servimstudy is The FutureLynxprogramme dependenl formE, Thisstudyis arpected for the UKarmed rqquirements heticopter intofuturemilitary to report in March 2A04and witt providethe basis for tuture helicopterproanrement, cunentlyprovidd by Lynx. As I am sure you for any replacement tha capability including furtherat for it therefore, wouldnot be appropriate meto comment understand will therefore thisstage.

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