§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the budget for development of Battlefield IFF for each of the last five years; and what is the budget for each of the next five years.
§ Mr. AitkenWe have funded a number of technology programmes within the Defence Research Agency which are applicable to a range of potential equipments, including Battlefield IFF, although the expenditure applicable solely to Battlefield IFF cannot be separately identified. The Defence Research Agency is now undertaking a research programme aimed at assessing short-term solutions as well as options for the longer term for such a system.
We have not commenced the development of a Battlefield IFF because it has not yet been possible to 131W identify a secure and effective solution which would match the complexities of the modern battlefield. As far as our budget for the next five years is concerned, it is not our practice to reveal the details of our forward programme.