§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about future provision for close ground/sea to air defence systems and expected in service dates for all three services.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe future close air defence of the fleet will be provided by the close in weapon systems Phalanx which is already in service with the Royal Navy, and Goalkeeper, which will enter service shortly; and by the Seawolf missile system, including the vertically launched version due in service in the early 1990s. Regarding future provision for land-based air defence systems, we have placed major orders with British industry over the last year for Starstreak close air defence systems and improved Rapier area air defence systems. These will enter service in the early and mid-1990s, respectively. All these systems will provide major enhancements to our air defence capabilities.