HL Deb 05 July 1996 vol 573 cc122-3WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list all the government-to-government research contracts; information exchange arrangements; joint trials and experiments and direct contracts with UK companies and universities' currently taking place under the 1985 memorandum of understanding concerning the Strategic Defence Initiative and successor US anti-ballistic missile defence programmes.

Earl Howe

Government-to-government arrangements for US funded work performed by the UK are called letters of offer and acceptance (LOAs). Since the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries in December 1985, 27 such LOAs have been awarded, amounting to a total value of 115 million dollars, with the work being carried out by UK industry and the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. The purpose of two arrangements is classified; the remainder are as follows:

  • SUBJECT:
  • UK SDI European Architecture Study
  • European Battle Management Command, Control and Communications
  • Electromagnetic Railgun
  • Countermeasures to SDI components
  • Laser Impulse Coupling/Interaction
  • European Test Bed Requirements Study
  • Catalysts for CO2 Laser System
  • Advanced Sensor Hardening
  • Higher Operating Temperature Infra-Red Detectors
  • Delay Lines
  • UK Extended Air Defence Test Bed
  • Artificial Intelligence Discrimination
  • Data Fusion Demonstrator
  • Multifunction Electronically Scanned Adaptive Radar Trials
    • WA 123
  • Tetraform
  • UK Architecture Study Follow-on
  • Lethality Database
  • Sensor Hardening (follow-on-Studies)
  • Phase Conjugation programme
  • Target Orientated Tracking System
  • Evolution and Testing of Infra-Red Window Materials
  • Lethality Technology
  • Threat Generation Study
  • Space Technology Research Vehicle 2
  • Interceptor Avionics

Under the terms of the 1985 MoU, exchange of relevant research information is undertaken by a number of SDI collaboration and research (SCORE) groups and sub-groups, covering a wide area of ballistic missile defence (BMD) related technologies. These are supported by an exchange of scientist programme, under which UK scientists are invited to spend periods working at various US research establishments and vice versa.

Joint trials and experiments are undertaken as and when the opportunity arises, allowing the sharing of research data to mutual benefit. The detail of the majority of these trials is classified.

Since 1985, over 80 direct contracts have been awarded to UK firms and universities. Details of these are a matter for the parties concerned.