HC Deb 10 April 1987 vol 114 cc455-6W
Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department intends to build hardened shelters for United Kingdom-based airborne warning and control system aircraft.

Mr. Freeman

My Department has no intention to build hardened shelters for United Kingdom-based airborne warning and control system aircraft.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether airborne warning and control system aircraft will be able to refuel from Victor K2 tankers.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Yes. All Victor K2 tankers are fitted with an E-3 compatible refuelling system.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether airborne warning and control system aircraft will be able to refuel from VC10 K1 tankers.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

There are no VC10 K1 aircraft in service. However, the United Kingdom's VC10 K2 and VC10 K3 tanker fleet will be compatible with the United Kingdom E-3 force.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether airborne warning and control systems aircraft will be able to refuel from Tristar Q1 tankers.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Yes.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for how many hours airborne warning and control system aircraft will be able to remain on station with air-to-air refuelling.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It is not our practice to reveal details of operational capabilities.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how long the airborne warning and control system mission system avionics can be kept in operation in the air without need for maintenance.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It is not our practice to reveal details of operational capabilities. However, most elements of the mission system are duplicated providing an automatic in-flight redundancy thereby ensuring a high degree of efficiency in the MSA.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours Royal Air Force airborne warning and control system aircraft will he able to stay on station over the Faroes/Iceland area of the North sea without air-to-air refulling.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It is not our practice to reveal details of operational capabilities.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the vulnerability of Royal Air Force advanced warning and control system aircraft on the ground in the event of war.

Mr. Stanley

I will write to the right hon. Gentleman.