§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the extent, nature and purpose of Royal Air Force participation in Exercise Arid Thunder in December 1995. [19638]
§ Mr. SoamesExercise Arid Thunder 1995–96 was divided into four two-week periods. RAF participation was as follows:
Unit Dates 13 Squadron 3–17 November 1995 14 Squadron 20 November–1 December 1995 617 Squadron 3–15 December 1995 17 Squadron 19 February–1 March 1996 Eight Tornado aircraft and 122 personnel were deployed from each squadron. The purpose of the exercise was to provide training by expending life-expired BL755 munitions.