HC Deb 07 May 1969 vol 783 c424
4. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why United States rather than British radar sets are being installed in Great Britain's Phantom aircraft.

The Minister of Defence for Equipment (Mr. John Morris)

No suitable British radar system would have been available in time. We therefore chose a system which had been developed for the U.S. Navy Phantom.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Will the Minister of Defence ensure that any future avionics, if not designed in this country, can at least be built here and supplied to our forces?

Mr. Morris

Yes. These are matters that we take a great deal of account of. A great deal of British equipment is in the Phantom. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology has announced, Ferranti has been given a contract for the long-term support of the radar equipment installed in British Phantoms.