HC Deb 20 June 1989 vol 155 cc75-6W
Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessments were made of(a) current and (b) projected peacetime loss rates of the Tornado F2 and F3 in RAF service prior to the decision to order an additional attrition replacement batch in 1988.

Mr. Sainsbury

No Tornado F2s or F3s have been lost to date. The predicted peacetime attrition rate is classified.

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration is being given to the placing of further attrition replacement orders for(a) air defence Tornados and (b) strike/attack/reconnaissance Tornados.

Mr. Sainsbury

The need for additional attrition aircraft is kept under review.

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what projected peacetime attrition rate was assumed for the Tornado air defence variant in calculating the size of the original order for 165 aircraft for the Royal Air Force;

(2) what proportion of the original order of 165 Tornado air defence variants for the Royal Air Force was made up of attrition replacement aircraft.

Mr. Sainsbury

The information requested is classified.