§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects a contract to be placed for the development of a laser warner for Eurofighter 2000.
§ Mr. AitkenFollowing a review of the operational requirement, we have concluded that a laser warner is a necessary part of the defensive aids suite for the RAF's Eurofighter 2000 aircraft. Following an international competition, Eurofighter GmbH will be awarding a sub-contract for development of the equipment to GEC-Ferranti. The order, which will be worth nearly £20 million, will support some 100 jobs in the Edinburgh area. At the moment this is a United Kingdom-only requirement, although Spain will be retaining the option to fit the equipment later.