Tornado (Hansard, 18 April 1989)

§ Mr. Devlin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received about training of aircrew on Tornado aircraft.

§ Mr. Neubert
None.

§ Mr. Devlin
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last reviewed the operational capacities of the Tornado; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Archie Hamilton
The operational capabilities of the RAF's front-line aircraft are kept under constant review. The build-up of the Tornado F3 force is proceeding satisfactorily, and the fourth squadron is due to become operational this year. As for the Tornado GR1, my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, informed the House during the Royal Air Force debate on 9 March at columns 1055–56 that we have decided to proceed with a mid-life improvement programme (columns 1055–56). A contract for the development phase of the programme was placed on Panavia on 16 March.