HC Deb 25 May 1965 vol 713 cc62-5W
Sir J. Eden

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT lists showing each type of aircraft and missile, where this is not classified information, now in service with the Royal Air Force, and the year in which under present plans they are to be replaced with more advanced types; and the aircraft and missiles which are shortly to come into service or are on order, or for which design studies have been commissioned or on which an option exists, with which it is at present planned to equip the Royal Air Force, and the

I. AIRCRAFT NOW IN SERVICE
Aircraft Date for Replacement by more advanced type Remarks
Andover CC 2 … — No current plans for replacement.
Anson … Replacement now in progress. —
Argosy … Not yet decided. —
Auster … — No current plans for replacement.
Basset … — No current plans for replacement.
Belvedere … Not yet decided. —
Beverley … About 1968 To be replaced by C130.
Britannia … — No decision on replacement taken.
Canberra … Date depends on decision on replacement type. —
Chipmunk … — No current plans for replacement.
Comet … — No decision on replacement taken.
Dakota … — No current plans for replacement.
Devon … — No current plans for replacement.
Gnat … 1973–74. Joint Anglo-French development planned.
Hastings … About 1967. To be replaced by C130.
Heron … — No current plans for replacement.
Hunter … 1968 onwards. To be replaced in front line by Phantom and Kestrel.
Javelin … — Rô1e to be assumed by Lightning.
Jet Provost … — No current plans for replacement.
Kestrel … — In service with Tripartite Evaluation Squadron.
Lightning … Not yet decided. —
Meteor … — No current plans for replacement.
Pembroke … — No current plans for replacement.
Pioneer … Not yet decided. —
Provost … — No current plans for replacement.
Shackleton Mk. 2 … 1969–70. To be replaced by HS801.
Shackleton Mk. 3 … Not yet decided. —
Sioux … — No current plans for replacement.
Sycamore … Not yet decided. —
Twin Pioneer … Not yet decided. —
Valetta … — No current plans for replacement.
Vampire … — No current plans for replacement.
Varsity … Mid-1970's No decision taken on replacement.
Victor … — No current plans for replacement.
Vulcan … — No current plans for replacement.
Wessex … Early 1970's Replacement type not yet decided.
Whirlwind …
II. AIRCRAFT ON ORDER, OR EXPECTED IN SERVICE WITHIN TWO YEARS
Aircraft Expected Financial Year of Entry to service
Andover C I … … … … … … 1965/66
Belfast … … … … … … 1965/66
Dominie … … … … … … 1965/66
C 130 … … … … … … 1966/67
VC 10 … … … … … … 1966/67
III. AIRCRAFT FOR WHICH STUDIES HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED
Aircraft Expected Entry to Service
New Tactical Helicopter Early 1970's
Kestrel (Operational version) Late 1960's
Advanced trainer (Anglo-French development) 1973–74
Variable geometry aircraft (Anglo-French development) Mid-late 1970's

year in which it is hoped they will be in operational service.

Mr. Healey

The non-classified information requested is tabulated below.

IV. AIRCRAFT FOR WHICH OPTIONS EXIST
Aircraft Financial Year of Entry to Service
F111A … … … … … … … 1968/69
C130 … … … … … … … 1966/67
Phantom … … … … … … … 1968/69
V. GUIDED MISSILES NOW IN SERVICE
Missiles Date for replacement by more advanced type Remarks
A. Air-to-Air
Firestreak Not yet decided. Will continue in service as supplement to Red Top.
B. Surface-to-Air
Bloodhound Mark 2 Not yet decided. —
C. Air-to-Surface
SS 11 — No current plans for replacement.
AS30 Date depends on decision as to Canberra replacement. —
Blue Steel — No current plans for replacement.
VI. GUIDED MISSILES ON ORDER OR EXPECTED IN SERVICE WITHIN TWO YEARS
Missile Expected financial year of entry into service
Air-to-Air
Red Top … … 1965/66.

VII. GUIDED MISSILES—STUDIES

There are no missiles on which feasibility or project studies are outstanding. Development of a low-level ground-to-air guided missile is already in progress, and the air-to-surface missile AJ 168 is being developed jointly with the French.