HC Deb 09 March 1989 vol 148 cc686-8W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total expenditure in each year since 1979 on the fitment of high intensity strobe lights to military aircraft of the three services;

(2) if he will make a statement on progress in fitting high intensity strobe lights to military aircraft of the three services;

(3) when the fitment of high intensity strobe lights of RAF Nimrod aircraft was first proposed; what is the current status of the proposal; and what funding has been provided for this programme.

Mr. Neubert

[holding answer 16 January 1989]: High intensity strobe lights (HISLs) have so far been fitted to aircraft of the three services as follows:

Percentage
Royal Navy
Sea Harrier 100
Gazelle 80
Army
Scout 100
Lynx 85
Gazelle 65
Royal Air Force
Dominie 100
Harrier ¾ 95
Harrier GR5 1100
Jaguar 100
Hercules 75
Buccaneer 54
Hawk 100
VC10 C1 100
Jetstream 65
Bulldog 2—
Sea King 100
Chinook 35
Puma 85
Gazelle 50
Wessex 68
1 Fitted during manufacture.
2 Programme about to commence.
3 Trial programme.

Consideration is being given to fitting HISLs on a further six RAF aircraft types including Nimrod. It is not, however, our practice to comment on whether individual items are included in the forward defence programme The installation of HISLs is undertaken only as part of a larger modification programme for each aircraft. It would not therefore, be possible to identify separately the discrete expenditure on HISLs for military aircraft since 1979, without disproportionate cost and effort.