§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there is evidence available to Her Majesty's Government that older-generation Badger and Blinder bombers have been withdrawn from service by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics with the introduction of Backfire; or whether these represent a net increase in inventory.
§ Mr. pymBadger and Blinder aircraft are still in service in the Soviet Union. They are being replaced by the Backfire, but no clear pattern has yet emerged. We estimate that overall there has been an increase in the total numbers of Soviet medium bombers since Backfire was first deployed.