HC Deb 03 July 1995 vol 263 c90W
Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money his Department has invested in the development and other costs of each of the three final contenders and their systems in the attack helicopter contest. [30870]

Mr. Freeman

The UK is participating with France and Germany in the development of the long range TRIGAT missile system offered with Tiger by BAe/Eurocopter: the UK's share of development costs to 31 May 1995 was £210 million, at 1995–96 prices. The UK also co-operated with France during the 1980s in the development of the RTM 322 engine which is offered as an option for the Westland Helicopters Apache; the UK's share of the development costs was about £21 million. It is likely that some other equipments offered by the attack helicopter bidders may be derived, in whole or in part, from earlier developments to which the Ministry of Defence has contributed; this is, however, unquantifiable.