HC Deb 05 July 1995 vol 263 cc268-9W
Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties were flown during the recent exercise Tartan Warrior; how many of these were by ground attack aircraft; and what was the minimum permitted altitude for the ground attack aircraft involved in the exercise. [31336]

Mr. Soames

A total of 289 sorties were flown during the exercise, of which 200 were by ground attack aircraft. The minimum permitted altitude for the majority of the low-level sorties flown by ground attack aircraft was 250 ft minimum separation distance with a small proportion of sorties permitted down to 100 ft minimum separation distance.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advance information was given to the media concerning Exercise Tartan Warrior; and if he will list those media organisations to whom the information was sent. [31340]

Mr. Soames

Exercise Tartan Warrior was a small-scale squadron training exercise and in the circumstances advance information was not given to the media about all of the activity involved. Details of the use of Tain air weapons range were provided to Moray Firth Radio and to Aberdeen Journals Ltd.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the ground attack sorties during exercise Tartan Warrior involved carriage of live weapons. [31339]

Mr. Soames

Five sorties involved carriage of live weapons for practice ground attacks on Garvie Island weapons range.

Mr. Foulkes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the aim of the recent Tartan Warrior exercise; how many aircraft and of what types took part; and what plans he has for further exercises in this series. [31335]

Mr. Soames

The aim of the exercise was to provide both routine squadron training, and work-up prior to Exercise Air Warrior in the USA, for No. 41 Sqn RAF Coltishall. The following aircraft took part:

  • Ten Jaguar GR1As
  • Six Tornado GR1s
  • Eight Tornado F3s
  • Eight USAF F15s

A further exercise in the headquarters No. 1 group Tartan series involving No. 6 Sqn RAF Coltishall is planned for October 1995.