HC Deb 03 November 1988 vol 139 cc735-6W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost involved in the circumnavigation of the world by the Royal Air Force TriStar tanker of 216 Squadron and the four Tornado F3 aircraft of 29 Squadron; and what was the purpose of the exercise.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I believe that the hon. Member is referring to a sequential series of deployments earlier this year which included:

  1. (a) UK (RAF and RN) participation in the integrated air defence system air defence Exercise Lima Bersatu, centred on Malaysia, with other members of the five power defence arrangements;
  2. (b) the first demonstration tour by Tornado F3 aircraft in the far east, visiting Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia;
  3. (c) Joint training with the Royal Thai Air Force at Korat in Thailand;
  4. (d) Tri-service UK participation in the Australian bicentennial celebrations; and
  5. (e) Participation in air shows on the west and east coast of the USA.

In the course of these deployments, two RAF TriStar tankers from RAF Brize Norton and four Tornado F3 aircraft from RAF Coningsby circumnavigated the world.

The deployments were planned on the basis that costs would be found from within existing RAF allocations, except that additional funds of £945,000 were identified as necessary for the charter of extra support aircraft to enable the RAF transport force to meet other tri-service commitments during the period. A precise total cost for this series of deployments is not available and could not be provided without disproportionate effort.