§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on military training areas in the UK, with particular reference to(a) their uses and (b) their value for large training operations. [41316]
§ Dr. MoonieThe Ministry of Defence has 172 training area and range sites in the UK, the tenure of which is either freehold, leasehold or licensed land. They are used for a wide variety of Army training but fall into one of the following three categories:
- Dry training (training without the use of live ammunition although blank ammunition and pyrotechnics may be used);
- Field firing (training with the use of live ammunition);
- Fixed ranges (such as small arms ranges).
The UK training areas can accommodate training up to unit level (Battalion/Regiment—approximately 1,000 personnel and 200 vehicles) but formation (Brigade—approximately 5,000 personnel and 1,300 vehicles, or Divisional—approximately 25,000 personnel and 7,000 67W vehicles) level training has to be tailored to the respective area. In the case of mechanised and armoured formations (formations equipped with wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles), their training is usually conducted overseas. Light role formations can exercise in the UK with careful planning.
The RAF maintains five Air Weapons Ranges and an Electronic Air Weapons Range, which enable aircrew to practice weapons delivery techniques. These are not generally suitable for large numbers of aircraft. The Royal Navy has training areas used as offshore gunnery ranges. DERA als0o utilises ranges for test and evaluation purposes.