§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of Warsaw pact armament production; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonOur latest estimates for Warsaw pact armaments production relate to 1988 and are as follows:
- (a) approximately 4,200 tanks, including approximately 3,500 made in the USSR;
- (b) approximately 700 fighter aircraft, plus approximately 200 combat trainers;
- (c) 11 submarines (including two major conversions) and five major surface ships; and
- (d) approximately 375 ballistic missiles.
It is not yet possible to give figures for 1989. However, we believe that there may have been a fall in tank production and that cuts in some other areas, such as fighter aircraft, are being implemented. Any cuts will, of course, be from high historic levels of output.