§ Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the reasons for the delay so far in the issue of the invitation to tender—ITT—for ASRAAM—the advanced short-range air-to-air missile.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkIt is taking longer than we hoped to finalise the terms of the ITT because of the complexities associated with this procurement.
§ Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent so far by his Department on the ASRAAM project.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThis information is classified.
§ Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to preserve the family of weapons now covering the advanced short-range and medium-range air-to-air missiles.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkWe are currently discussing with the United States the status Of the family of weapons memorandum of understanding.
§ Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether any missile other than BAe's ASRAAM proposal meets the specification of staff requirement (air) 1234.
(2) whether the British Aerospace ASRAAM proposal meets the specification of staff requirement (air) 1234.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe evaluation of responses to the ITT will determine which proposals meet the specification of SR(A) 1234.
410W
§ Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when an invitation to tender for ASRAAM will be released to industry.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe ITT will be issued as soon as possible.
§ Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department intends to proceed with a European solution to the ASRAAM requirement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkWe plan to seek competitive proposals for solutions to our advanced short-range missile requirements.
§ Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated benefit to the United Kingdom of the export potential of ASRAAM.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkIt is too early to say.