Dr. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the establishment of an annual flag-type tactical fighter meet exercise in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. FreemanBy "flag-type tactical fighter meet" exercises, it is assumed that the hon. Member is referring to the annual series of exercises in which the Royal Air Force participates, held in the United States and Canada under the titles Red Flag, Green Flag and Maple Flag. There are no plans for similar exercises in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Tartan Flag air exercises have been held in Britain since 1979;
(2) how many Border Flag air exercises have been held in Britain since 1979.
§ Mr. FreemanThe names Tartan and Border Flag are names for work-up training prior toparticipation in major flag exercises in the United States of Amercia and Canada. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost and effort.
Dr. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to establishing simulated ground threat emitter sites in the tactical training areas in north-west Scotland and central Wales.
§ Mr. FreemanThere are no plans to set up ground threat emitter sites in the tactical training areas in northwest Scotland and central Wales.
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Dr. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence why Royal Air Force Jaguar and Harrier work-up training for Maple Flag and Red Flag exercises is not conducted from Goose Bay, Canada.
§ Mr. FreemanCurrent training facilities available to the RAF at Goose Bay were developed primarily for use by Tornado aircraft. They are not large enough to accommodate additional Jaguar and Harrier squadrons. Nor is Jaguar and Harrier participation in Maple Flag exercises sufficiently regular to justify stationing aircraft at Goose Bay.