8. Mr. Dykes askedthe Secretary of State for Defence if he has been able to reach a conclusion on which contractors should receive the proposed radar installation work for the Sea Wolf contract.
§ Mr. PattieAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 9 February, we have selected the Marconi 805 SW radar as the lightweight tracker for improved Sea Wolf. Marconi Radar is the prime contractor for the tracker and processor elements of the Sea Wolf ship system.
§ Mr. DykesMoving into less controversial waters for the Government, may I thank my hon. Friend for the way in which that contract has been granted to Marconi, which 738 is the best company in the world for such work? Can he tell us how the teaming of the joint working groups will be done, because that will be an interesting and novel feature of the contract?
§ Mr. PattieI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his remarks. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces told the House on 15 February, British Aerospace and Marconi Radar have reached an agreement by which British Aerospace will take on certain specific development tasks on the 805 SW. The firms have said that it is intended that British Aerospace will become the prime contractor for future Sea Wolf developments. The two companies will co-operate to develop as a private venture the vertical launch systems. The Government warmly welcome this agreement.