Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

RAF Quick Reaction Alert Stations

Monday 11 September 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Royal Air Force quick reaction alert stations have been launched five times in 2023, with all incidents successfully resolved.
  • The Minister expressed complete confidence in the readiness and capability of the RAF to defend the UK in a peer conflict.
  • Concerns were raised about the limited availability of combat aircrew for training due to operational demands.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robert Courts Con
Defence
Context

The question arises due to concerns about the RAF's ability to effectively respond and defend against aerial threats. The MP is seeking an assessment of recent operations.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the RAF quick reaction alert stations?

Answer from James Heappey

Royal Air Force pilots and ground crew are poised on quick reaction alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round, ready to scramble within minutes. QRA has been launched on five occasions in 2023 with every incident resolved successfully.

Answered
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Q2 Robert Courts Con
Defence
Context

The question stems from the Defence Committee report “Aviation Procurement: Winging it?” which highlights concerns over the combat air mass and the strain on air mobility due to retiring aircraft. The MP is querying about the readiness of the forces.

Question

With the retirement of the Hercules placing even more demands on the air mobility force, what confidence does he have that, if required to do so, those forces have enough men, women and machines to defend the UK in a peer conflict?

Answer from James Heappey

I have complete confidence that quick reaction alert will be resourced. The highest priority of the air force is to defend the homeland. I also have complete confidence that the combat air force, as currently structured, is capable of performing a very wide range of duties around the world.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific concern about manpower and machinery availability was not addressed directly.

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Q3 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Defence
Context

The MP is questioning the Minister about concerns over insufficient aircraft availability for proper combat air training, despite acknowledging the quality of combat aircrews.

Question

There are serious concerns that our combat aircrew are engaged almost universally in transit and air policing, with very little aircraft availability to practise proper combat air. What is his assessment of this concern?

Answer from James Heappey

We take seriously the work that the Defence Committee does; in addition to QRA and support to NATO missions, they have supported carrier strike deployments, Exercise Red Flag, and deployed a squadron to Australia. This ability to deploy air force with greater agility is a step change for the Royal Air Force.

Not addressed: The specific concern about aircraft availability was not addressed; instead, focus was on various missions undertaken by RAF.

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