§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give further particulars of the aircraft, helicopters and submarines referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Tynemouth of 10th March 1977, as providing anti-ship operations at ranges beyond that of Exocet indicating the weapons concerned in each case; and when they will enter front-line service.
§ Mr. DuffySystems capable of providing anti-ship operations at ranges beyond that of Exocet are:
Buccaneer and Phantom squadrons are to be replaced on an equal basis by two new RAF squadrons when they are disbanded; and what is to provide civilian 193W radar cover for the Navy in the place of the Navy's Gannet AEW aircraft other than existing RAF aircraft after HMS "Ark Royal" is scrapped at the end of 1978 and before the AEW Nimrod comes into service in several years' time.
§ Mr. WellbelovedWhile a new RAF Buccaneer squadron will be formed, it is not at present planned to form a new RAF Phantom squadron. Existing RAF squadrons will be augmented to maintain the overall strength of the Phantom force. Since the RAF's Shackleton AEW force was formed specifically to provide land based AEW cover for the Fleet after the withdrawal of the aircraft carriers, no additional cover is planned.