HC Deb 15 November 1984 vol 67 cc343-4W
Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those Anglo-Italian collaborative defence projects (a) completed, (b) currently being undertaken and (c) publicly committed to; and if he will express each in terms of total cost and numbers involved.

Mr. Butler

The EH101 helicopter project, development of which was launched earlier this year, is the first major programme to be undertaken bilaterally by the United Kingdom and Italy.

Our two countries have, however, collaborated jointly with Germany on Tornado and on the FH70 and SP70 gun projects. The first two of these equipments are now in service with the armed forces of the three nations, while the third is still in development. The United Kingdom and Italy are also working, together with other NATO countries, on a number of multilateral collaborative projects, including:

Sidewinder Aim 9L Co-production projects
MLRS Phase 1
European Fighter Aircraft Early Feasibility Studies in progress
NATO Frigate NFR 90

It is not the practice to provide information on costs and estimated production numbers for projects of this nature.