Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the operational success of the wind-farm-friendly Lockhead Martin TPS-77 radar system; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (including Defence Exports): The Ministry of Defence has installed three Lockheed Martin TPS-77 air defence radars since 2011. These radars have completed Site Acceptance Testing and one of the radars (Trimingham) has been declared at Initial Operating Capability (IOC). Work continues to reach IOC on the other two radars, which is expected this year; Full Operating Capability will follow flight testing of these radars against specific wind-farms, with the first flight test planned for late 2015.

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