HC Deb 07 July 1986 vol 101 cc87-8W
Mr. Best

asked the Secretary of State for Defence against what design criteria as respects purposes and degrees of specialisation for towed array sonar was the evaluation by the marine technology board of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council of the S-90 carried out.

Mr. Lee

No evidence was presented to the marine technology board that the performance of the S90 frigate when operating with towed-sonar had been addressed.

Mr. Best

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of the nature of the failure of the S-90 to meet the Royal Navy's requirements.

Mr. Lee

As I said on 1 November 1983, at column333, it was concluded that the proposed design of the S90 was fundamentally unsuited to the key requirements of the type 23 frigate. It lacked sufficient space and did not meet our requirements on speed, endurance, seakeeping, damaged stability and noise.