§ Mr. David MartinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on co-operation with France on a future frigate.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleIn a recent exchange of letters with the French Minister of Defence, M. Pierre Joxe, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and M. Joxe have agreed to begin exploratory work lasting about 18 months on a joint project for a future anti-air warfare frigate to enter service early in the next decade. The new frigate would be equipped with anti-air missiles of the FAMS programme. Its task would be escorting and protecting maritime forces in the Atlantic or elsewhere.
This bilateral initiative concludes a series of discussions initiated one year ago, and follows a joint statement of need by the two navies and a joint technical report on the feasibility of a co-operative programme.
89WBoth countries recognise the potential benefits of co-operation through standardisation, rationalisation and interoperability of equipments. A number of difficult issues will need to be addressed in this next phase of work, but my right hon. Friend and M. Joxe are determined that every effort shall be made to resolve them. The outcome of this phase will enable a final decision on the development of the frigate to be taken in 1993.
The participation of the other nations co-operating on FAMS remains an option for any subsequent phase.