Flag and Cope Thunder Exercises

HC Deb 03 November 1993 vol 231 cc289-90W

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates and number and type of aircraft involved of all RAF participation in Flag and Cope Thunder Exercises in North America since 1989.

Mr. Hanley

The information requested is as follows:

Dates	Aircraft Types
Red/Green Flag
April 1989	9 Tornado GR1s
April 1990	9 Tornado GR1s
April 1991	10 Harriers
January-February 1992	8 Tornado GR1s
October-November 1992	8 Tornado GR1s, 6 Tornado F3s, 2 Victors, 1 C-130
Cope Thunder/Distant Frontier
April-May 1990	4 Tornado GR1s
April-May 1992	8 Tornado GR1s, 6 Tornado F3s, 1E-3D, 1 VC10 Tanker, 1 C-130
April-May 1993	9 Tornado GR1s, 8 Tornado F3, 1 C-120

Maple Flag

Records of RAF participation in Maple Flag exercises in Canada are not held centrally. The exercise takes place in May-June each year, and RAF participation usually comprises either eight Jaguars or Harriers, which usually attend in alternate years.