§ Lord Jenkins of Putneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which medium-range bombers and nuclear-capable strike aircraft are counted in the "theatre" nuclear balance.
§ Lord BelsteadDetails of NATO and Soviet aircraft included in the "theatre" nuclear balance are contained in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1982. The Soviet Union has up to 2,500 nuclear capable theatre aircraft comprising BADGER, BLINDER, FITTER, FLOGGER, FISHBED and FENCER. The BACKFIRE bomber also has a European land attack role and thus poses a serious threat to NATO Europe. NATO has about 800 nuclear capable theatre aircraft comprising F111, F104, JAGUAR, BUCCANEER and TORNADO. These figures will be updated in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983.