§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Defence if there have been any further discussions about the remote pilotless vehicle programme since the March 1983, independent European programme group meeting; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieThe Army has a draft requirement for a battlefield surveillance and target acquisition system based on remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs). This draft requirement has been the subject of competitive definition studies undertaken by Ferranti and Marconi Avionics, the results of which are currently being assessed. There have been no substantive discussions of co-operation on RPVs within the framework of the IEPG since March 1983, but meetings have taken place with individual IEPG countries on the nature of their requirements with a view to assessing the scope for collaboration and for more detailed exchanges of information. It is expected that the best way forward will be clearer before the end of the year.