§ 50. Mr. DouglasTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the strategic considerations which relate to the possible collaboration between the United Kingdom, France and the five other nations which have signed a memorandum of undertaking to develop and produce air-launched stand-off weapons.
§ Mr. SainsburyBecause of the increasing effectiveness of Warsaw pact air defences, there is a clear need in future to equip our aircraft with weapons which can be launched at a distance away from the target area. Proposals for a modular staff-off weapon have been invited which would meet this need by providing a modular family of weapons which can deliver a variety of conventional sub-munitions over a range of distances.