§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many times Iraqi aircraft have violated the no-fly zones(a) in the five years preceding Operation Desert Fox and (b) since the conclusion of Operation Desert Fox; [77229]
(2) how many times allied aircraft have fired at Iraqi aircraft and installations in the no-fly zones when allied aircraft have been initially locked on by Iraqi forces (a) in the five years preceding Operation Desert Fox and (b) since the conclusion of Operation Desert Fox; [77230]
(3) how many times allied aircraft have fired at Iraqi aircraft and installations in the no-fly zones without being initially locked on by Iraqi forces (a) in the five years preceding Operation Desert Fox and (b) since the conclusion of Operation Desert Fox. [77231]
§ Mr. George Robertson[holding answer 22 March 1999]: In the five years preceding Operation Desert Fox (16–19 December 1998), Iraqi aircraft violated the no-fly zones on over 80 occasions. RAF aircraft did not fire on any Iraqi aircraft or installations during this time. Since Operation Desert Fox there have been some 120 violations of the no-fly zones, in which Iraqi aircraft have frequently tried to lure our aircraft within range of surface-to-air missile traps.
Our aircraft are routinely illuminated by Iraqi air defence network radars when patrolling the no-fly zones, but radar lock-on is a relatively rare occurrence as it exposes the initiator to the risk of an armed response. The Iraqis more commonly employ other means, including optical guidance, to direct their surface-to-air missiles. Statistics of lock-on occurrences have not been kept. RAF aircraft have attacked Iraqi targets on 15 occasions since Operation Desert Fox, in direct response to sustained attempts to shoot down coalition aircraft and kill aircrew.