§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date high intensity strobe lights were first fitted to Royal Air Force fast jet aircraft; what proportion of the Royal Air Force's fast jet fleet is now so equipped: and what plans exist to fit high intensity strobe lights to other United Kingdom military aircraft.
§ Mr. FreemanHigh-intensity strobe lights (HISL) began to be fitted to certain RAF aircraft types in 1983. Of these, the following proportion now have HISL:
Per cent. Harrier T4 73 Harrier GR3 15 Harrier GR5 100 Hawk 100 Jaguar 96 Buccaneer Mk 2b 54 Consideration is being given to fitting HISL to certain other RAF aircraft in due course. In addition, all RAF 450W Tornado aircraft are fitted with a low-intensity strobe tight system. HISLs have been fitted to all Royal Navy Harriers, and a programme is underway to fit HISLs to Army Gazelle and Lynx helicopters.