§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests are either currently conducted or planned to be conducted by his Department at his Department's site at Dundennan in Scotland into high energy beam weapons in conjunction with the United States Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency.
§ Mr. AitkenThis is a matter delegated to the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Letter from J. A. R. Chisholm to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 2 February 1993.
In today's written answer the Secretary of State for Defence informed you that I would be replying directly to your question regarding tests on high energy beam weapons at Dundrennan, Scotland.The tests to which I think you are referring are part of a DRA research programme into the feasibility of using electromagnetic energy for the propulsion of a solid projectile to enhance the armour penetrating performance of tank gunnery. This is a collaborative research programme between the United Kingdom and the United States which has nothing to do with so-called high energy beam weapons. The tests will be carried out at a facility that is still in the process of construction on the MOD range at Kirkcudbright; it is due to be completed by the end of May 1993.