Military chiefs were drawing up plans to fit Tornado jets with an advanced crash warning system four years before a fatal mid-air collision involving RAF Lossiemouth planes.
Approval for the installation of the technology was not given until October last year – months after three air crew died in an accident over the Moray Firth.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it identified a £59million “traffic collision avoidance system” for the Tornados in 2008.
Former Tornado pilot Colin McGregor, brother of film star Ewan McGregor, reacted to the news last night by saying: “And they’ve still not got it.”
The system is now due to be operational from December next year.
The 2012 collision caused the deaths of Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders, Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey and Flight Lieutenant Hywel Poole. A fourth man, who has not been named, survived the crash on July 3.
The results of the Military Aviation Authority’s inquiry into the crash have now been passed to the procurator fiscal.
Defence ministers revealed that the collision avoidance system was identified in 2008, but not fitted, following a series of questions tabled at Westminster by Moray MP Angus Robertson.
Last night, the SNP member said: “The findings of the inquiry are now a matter for the procurator fiscal and we await confirmation whether a fatal accident inquiry will be held.
“No doubt, the absence of a collision avoidance system in Tornado fast-jets will be an important consideration and these parliamentary answers from the Ministry of Defence shed light on the issue.
“Whatever conclusions are reached by the procurator fiscal, it is imperative that all lessons are learnt from the Tornado collision over the Moray Firth.”
In response to Mr Robertson’s questions, Defence Minister Philip Dunne said a “commercial off-the-shelf traffic collision avoidance system was identified as a potential solution to the department’s requirement for a collision warning system” on the Tornado GR4 “as part of the department’s 2008 annual planning process”.
The plan was not considered until January 2012, before being approved in October last year. It is now being trialled and is due to be in service from December 2014.
Heldon and Laich councillor Eric McGillivray, whose ward includes RAF Lossiemouth, said: “If that is what the MoD felt was appropriate at the time, who are we to question it? It’s not our place or position to comment on it. What the MoD decide to do is surely up to them – they have the expertise. What the RAF and MoD do is hopefully in the best interests of our country.”
An MoD spokesman said: “There are already a range of mitigation measures in place to minimise the risk of mid-air collision, and tragic incidents such as that in Moray are extremely rare.
“A specifically-designed Tornado collision warning system, which will be another tool for pilots to use, is currently being trialled and will be in service in the next year. Our thoughts remain with the families of Sqn Ldr Sam Bailey, Flt Lt Hywel Poole and Flt Lt Adam Sanders.
“The results of the service inquiry into the crash are being considered by Scotland’s procurator fiscal and, therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment further on this case.”
The Crown Office said: “The procurator fiscal has received a report in connection with the deaths of three men, one aged 27, one aged 28 and one aged 36, over the Moray Firth on July 3, 2012.
“The investigation into these deaths, under the direction of Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit, is ongoing and the families will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments.”
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