§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is intended that the laser guided system to be adopted for the RAF shall be the United States Pave-way Parcknife combination; to what extent the systems concerned are to be purchased in the United States of America; and whether research on systems of this nature has been carried out in the United Kingdom.
§ Dr. GilbertThe Laser Guidance System that we intend to procure for the RAF is the United States Pave Way/ Pave Spike combination. To meet the urgent NATO requirement, we shall buy the basic equipments from the USA, but their integration into British aircraft and bombs will be carried out by United Kingdom contractors. Work on target designators and on laser guidance systems continues in this country.