HC Deb 16 January 1984 vol 52 cc81-2W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what warning was given to shipping during the testing of the Sea wolf missile against Exocets in the Aberforth missile range.

Mr. Lee

No special warning was given to shipping, but the firing areas for the Aberporth range are shown on Admiralty charts. Clear range procedures were used for the trial including radar surveillance both from the shore and from the two RN ships on the range at the time. If shipping had encroached on to the range the trial would have been delayed until the range was clear. I can therefore confirm that our normal procedures were followed throughout.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Exocet missiles and how many Sea wolf missiles were fired during the recent tests of the Sea wolf missile against the Exocet missile; and with what degree of success.

Mr. Lee

On 24 November 1983, on the Aberporth range, a single Seawolf missile was fired from HMS Brilliant intercepting a single Exocet missile fired from HMS Jupiter. The interception took place at the maximum range of Seawolf. The trial was a total success.