§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects(a) the first Apache helicopter to be flying in the United Kingdom and (b) the first squadron to be available for deployment on operations. [101861]
§ Mr. Kilfoyle[holding answer 13 December 1999]: The first WAH-64 Apache helicopter flew in the UK on 26 August 1999. Several trial flights have been conducted since. The nine aircraft required to equip the first squadron are expected to be delivered by December 2000. There will then follow a period of training after which the squadron will be ready for deployment.