§ 29. Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many support and attack helicopters in RA F frontline service there were in(a) January 1989 and (b) January 1993; and what is the projected number in 1995.
§ Mr. HanleyThere were 94 support helicopters in RAF frontline service in January 1989 and 93 in January 1993. This number is currently planned to reduce to 90 by mid-1994.
As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1993, "Defending Our Future" we plan to increase our support helicopter capability in the longer term. The in-service dates and number of additional aircraft will depend on decisions yet to be taken. The RAF does not operate attack helicopters.