Aircraft and personnel from the region will be stationed in the Gulf as part of the preparations for possible war with Iraq.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announed today that about 100 RAF aircraft and more than 7,000 personnel will be present in the Gulf.

Mr Hoon told the House of Commons that the force would include E3D Sentry aircraft for airborne command; Jaguar and Tornado reconnaissance aircraft; VC10 and Tristar refuelling aircraft; Hercules transporters; and Tornado F3s, Tornado GR4s and Harrier GR7s, providing an offensive capability.

In addition, the RAF element of the Joint Helicopter Command would provide 27 Puma and Chinook aircraft and around 1,100 personnel.

Mr Hoon told MPs the RAF was making a very substantial contribution ''to the building of a credible threat of force''.

He said it was still possible for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to disarm peacefully.

But he added: ''Time is running out. The Iraqi regime must decide whether it will comply with its obligations or face the consequences.''

The Defence Secretary told MPs that reports that British forces would have to stay in Iraq for three years were ''simply speculation''.

He acknowledged that ''our forces will be in the Gulf for as long as it takes to disarm Iraq and the regime of Saddam Hussein''.

Defence officials said that the deployment represented around a third of the RAF's frontline aircraft.

Around 75 of the fixed wing aircraft will be Tornado, Jaguar and Harrier fast jet fighters and fighter-bombers.

The first aircraft will start leaving for the Gulf in ''a matter of days, not weeks''.

The strike aircraft will be equipped ''predominantly'' with high-precision ''smart'' bombs and missiles, including the latest version of the 1,000lb laser-guided Paveway bombs.

The force will also include Rapier air defence missiles operated by the RAF Regiment. The aircraft will be drawn from squadrons and bases around the country.

The Jaguar GR3s are from RAF Coltishall; the Tornado GR4s and GR4as are from Lossiemouth and Marham; the Tornado F3s from Coningsby, Leeming and Leuchars; the Harrier GR7s from Cottesmore; the E3D Sentries from Waddington; the Tristars and VC10s from Brize Norton; the Hercules from Lyneham; the Chinooks from Odiham; and the Pumas from Benson. . . .