Organisation of Joint Armaments Co-operation

HC Deb 24 July 1997 vol 298 c723W

Sir Richard Body

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent organisation of join armaments co-operation projects are included in the defence review; and if he will make a statement. [10207]

Mr. Spellar

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: The organisation of joint armaments co-operation, more usually known as the Organisme Conjointe de Cooperation en matiere d'armament—(OCCAR)—is in its formative stages. At present, no collaborative projects involving UK participation are managed by the OCCAR.

The prospective projects involving the UK currently identified for inclusion in the OCCAR framework—the counter battery radar programmes, COBRA; multi-role armoured vehicle, MRAV and the tri-national military satellite communications programme, TRIMILSAT—will be considered according to their individual circumstances and in relation to progress with the strategic defence review.