§ Mr. Walter Johnsonasked the Minister of State for Defence what foreign firms other than those from the United State of America tendered for the radar contract for multi-role combat aircraft.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourMarcel Dassault and AEG Telefunken/FIAR also bid.
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§ Mr. Walter Johnsonasked the Minister of State for Defence what method was used to invite tenders for the avionic and radar equipment for the multi-rôle combat aircraft; and what body assessed the tenders.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourA list of suitable firms was agreed by the appropriate Equipment Selection Panel on which all three countries in the M.R.C.A. programme are represented. Competitive tenders were then invited and assessed by the joint airframe company, PANAVIA, before being passed to the Equipment Selection panel for decision.
§ Mr. Walter Johnsonasked the Minister of State for Defence which British firms tendered for the radar contract for the multi-rôle combat aircraft.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourFerranti and Elliott Automation Radar Systems Ltd. made a joint proposal.
§ Mr. Walter Johnsonasked the Minister of State for Defence (1) which American firm has succeeded in obtaining the radar contract for the multi-rôle combat aircraft;
(2) on what grounds the radar contract for the multi-rôle combat aircraft was awarded to the United States of America; and in particular what factors other than price/capability and date of delivery were taken into account.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourAs I announced on 21st October, Texas Instruments Ltd. has been awarded this contract. Its radar was much the cheapest that would satisfactorily meet the operational needs of the three participating countries. The Equipment Selection panel took into account all relevant considerations.—[Vol. 823, c. 885 –6.]