§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the portrayal of information in current and past editions of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates" on the numbers of embarked and shore-based aircraft assigned for naval operations in the Warsaw pact's(a) northern fleet, (b) Baltic fleet and (c) Black sea fleet; and if he will publish figures showing the numbers of aircraft in these categories in each fleet for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonRevised figures for embarked and shore-based aircraft, fixed-wing and helicopters, assigned for naval operations in the Warsaw pact's Northern, Baltic and Black sea fleets from 1979 to 1989 are approximately as follows:
Northern Fleet Baltic Fleet Black Sea Fleet 1979 350 270 260 1980 360 290 270 1981 370 270 300 1982 400 280 300 1983 400 280 320 1984 420 280 330 1985 400 270 300 1986 450 300 300 1987 425 270 300 1988 425 270 300 1989 425 270 280 Since 1985, the definitions of the type of aircraft included have altered and, as is the case with all estimates, the figures published in previous Statements on the Defence Estimates are subject to revision as new material becomes available.
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§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the figures for Warsaw pact aircraft deployed west of the Urals on page 51 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989" include aircraft from front-line units which are undergoing maintenance and modification in addition to mission-ready aircraft.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe aircraft figures quoted reflect the complete strength of the unit, which includes those undergoing maintenance and modification.
§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the reasons for the decline between late 1986 and late 1987 in the numbers of Warsaw pact SRINF aircraft deployed west of the Urals, as depicted in figure 16 on page 68 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1987" and figure 19 on page 67 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988".
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe change in deployment numbers is the result of the reorganisation of the Soviet air and air defence forces. A number of air regiments were transferred from tactical aviation forces, which have a nuclear role, to the strategic air defence force which does not have a nuclear attack role.
§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the reasons for the differences between the figures for Warsaw pact SRINF aircraft as at the end of 1988 provided in(a) the reply from the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert) to the right hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney (Mr. Shore) of 2 March, Official Report, column 254, and (b) figure 12 on page 51 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989", volume 1.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe figures given in the answer on 2 March 1989 by my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert) at column254 did not include the Frogfoot aircraft. This type of aircraft was included in figure 12 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989", Cm. 675-I, following a further assessment of its possible roles.
§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in the numbers of Warsaw pact long-range INF aircraft between the end of 1987 and the end of 1988, as depicted in figure 18 on page 66 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1988" and figure 12 on page 51 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1989".
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe reduction in the numerical strength of Warsaw pact LRINF medium bombers between 1987 and 1988 is due to the modernisation programme that has been undertaken by the Warsaw pact, with the continuing introduction of the Backfire
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Soviet Union Non-Soviet Warsaw Pact Total Warsaw Pact Total NATO Main Battle Tanks 26,000 5,400 31,400 11,000 Other Armoured Vehicles 48,000 6,300 54,300 20,800 Field Artillery, Mortars and Rocket Launchers 25,000 6,500 31,500 5,800 Tactical Combat and Interceptor Aircraft 7,300 1,200 8,500 6,400 supersonic dual-capable bomber. With the deployment of this superior weapon system, the Warsaw pact has been able to retire an increasing proportion of their ageing and obsolescent Badger medium bombers. Therefore, although the overall size of the aircraft component of the LRINF is gradually being reduced, its overall operational capability is being improved.
§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of(a) Badger, (b) Blinder and (c) Backfire aircraft deployed by the Warsaw pact west of the Urals at the end of each year since 1979, excluding those with a primary maritime role.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe approximate numbers were as follows:
Badger Blinder Backfire Totals 1979 420 160 40 620 1980 450 160 70 680 1981 450 160 70 680 1982 450 160 80 690 1983 420 160 100 680 1984 410 160 100 670 1985 410 160 120 690 1986 350 160 130 640 1987 290 160 150 600 1988 290 150 160 600 1989 210 150 180 540