It is difficult to correlate the number of sorties and weapon types utilised as one sortie can often constitute multiple weapons releases, possibly of different munition types. The following table details the total number of sorties, and those with weapons released, as of 25 August 2016. All UK strikes, in support of the Coalition, are undertaken as part of a rigorous targeting process, which assesses the situation before, during and after a strike to ensure adherence to the Law of Armed Conflict. It should be noted that frequently sorties will be flown in Syria with weapons released that may also have had weapons released in Iraq.<\/p>
<\/p>
Aircraft<\/ins><\/p><\/td> Sorties Flown<\/ins><\/p><\/td> Sorties Flown with Weapons Released<\/ins><\/p><\/td><\/tr> <\/p><\/td> Iraq<\/ins><\/p><\/td> Syria[1]<\/sup><\/ins><\/p><\/td> Iraq<\/ins><\/p><\/td> Syria<\/ins><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Typhoon<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 859<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 82<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 303<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 13<\/ins><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Tornado<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 2,370<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 298<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 506<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 37<\/ins><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Reaper<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 1,503<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 547<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 234<\/ins><\/p><\/td> 29<\/ins><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> Sorties can be conducted without weapons releases for multiple reasons, varying from the provision of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in order to support forces on the ground, to development of future striking opportunities.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The number of each weapon type released is as follows:<\/p> <\/p> Aircraft<\/p><\/td> Weapon Type Released<\/p><\/td> Location of Release<\/p><\/td><\/tr> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td> Iraq<\/p><\/td> Syria<\/p><\/td><\/tr> FGR4 Typhoon<\/p><\/td> Paveway[2]<\/sup><\/p><\/td> 551<\/p><\/td> 38<\/p><\/td><\/tr> GR4 Tornado<\/p><\/td> DMS Brimstone<\/p><\/td> 185<\/p><\/td> 23<\/p><\/td><\/tr> GR4 Tornado<\/p><\/td> Paveway[2]<\/sup><\/p><\/td> 685<\/p><\/td> 63<\/p><\/td><\/tr> MQ9 Reaper<\/p><\/td> Hellfire<\/p><\/td> 423<\/p><\/td> 45<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> [1]<\/sup> All Syrian sorties will have originated in Iraqi airspace.<\/p> [2]<\/sup> Includes all variants of Paveway munitions.<\/p>"}
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, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-09-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many sorties flown by RAF aircraft engaged on Operation SHADER in Syria and Iraq have (a) Brimstone missiles, (b) Hellfire missiles and (c) Paveway guided bombs been released; and how many of each such weapon type have been released in Syria and Iraq to date as part of Operation SHADER.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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