§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ground-based anti-aircraft weapons systems were used by the Iraqis against RAF Tornados during the Gulf war; and if he will list them.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonBefore the conflict, Iraq was believed to have possessed the following air-defence systems:
surface to air missiles: SA-2, SA-3, SA-6, SA-7, SA-8, SA-9, SA-13, SA-14, ROLAND;
530Wair defence guns: 22mm ZSU-23–4, 37mm M-1939, 57mm (including ZSU-57–2), 85mm, 100mm, 130mm.
All aspects of the Gulf conflict are currently under investigation; it is not possible to say which systems were used against RAF Tornados.
§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment as to(a) the capability of the JP233 bomb to immobilise Iraqi airfields permanently during the Gulf War and (b) how effectively the Iraqis were able to repair airfields attacked by JP233 bombs.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonRAF Tornado GRIs equipped with the JP233 low-level attack weapon system were used to disrupt and harass Iraqi air operations rather than to close Iraqi airfields. Detailed analysis of equipment and munition effectiveness during the Gulf conflict is still being undertaken.