HC Deb 22 March 1988 vol 130 c105W
33. Mr. Wilkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of Soviet modernisation of their submarine forces; and if he will make a statement.

53. Mr. Arbuthnot

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of Soviet modernisation of their submarine forces; and if he will make a statement.

107. Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of Soviet modernisation of their submarine forces; and if he will make a statement.

117. Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of Soviet modernisation of their submarine forces; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ian Stewart

I refer my hon. Friends to my statement during the Navy debate on 3 March at column 1174. During the 1980s five major new classes of Soviet submarines have been introduced into service — the Typhoon and Delta IV nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, the Sierra and Akula nuclear-powered attack submarines, and the Oscar nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine. This new generation of submarines poses an increased threat to NATO in terms of offensive capability, difficulty of detection and survivability. In addition, older classes of boats continue to be modernised, and their capabilities significantly improved.