Smart Trajectory Artillery Round (Hansard, 20 December 1999)

§ Mr. Kilfoyle

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Sir John Chisholm to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 20 December 1999I have been asked to respond to your parliamentary question about the Smart Trajectory Artillery Round (STAR). The STAR programme is an industry led programme. The team is led by Thomson-Thorn Missiles & Electronics; the other members are BAe Systems Royal Ordnance, Rockwell Collins and DERA. The programme started in 1997 and the first phase, technology demonstration, was completed towards the end of 1999. The purpose of the programme is to develop a product that would satisfy a perceived MOD requirement. The cost of the STAR fuze is a commercial decision to be taken by the industry team after consideration of the likely full development costs and the size of the potential market for this type of product. I hope this explains the situation.