§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has regarding the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics deployed anti-satellite system; what is its capability; whether it is a technical breach of the anti-ballistic missile treaty; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyThe Soviet Union has the world's only deployed anti-satellite (ASAT) sytem, an orbital interceptor of limited capability. Although operational since the early 1970s, the system has been tested on various occasions, not always successfully, and not since 1982. The actual interpretation of the ABM treaty is for the two signatories of that treaty.