§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement regarding the latest position of the multi-launch rocket system project.
§ Mr. ButlerThe MLRS basic system (phase I) is in production in the USA. Production of European requirements will be undertaken in Europe by an industrial consortium known as Europäische Productions Gesellschaft mbH (EPG). Work sharing between the European partners — France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom—was agreed in November last year. The offer by EPG for European production of MLRS is currently being considered by the participating nations and we expect that a contract will be awarded later this year. The ISD is planned for about 1990.
A contract for development of a terminally guided warhead (MLRS phase III) for use with the basic system 425W was awarded last November to MDTT Incorporated, a joint venture company of which Thorn-EMI is the United Kingdom member. The first stage of development is progressing well and will be completed in 1987. The system is planned to enter service in the early 1990s.