§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the modernisation of the SSN flotilla.
§ Mr. AitkenI am pleased to announce that we have today placed a contract with Ferranti Thomson Sonar Systems—FTSS—for the full development and initial production of sonar 2076 which will be fitted to Trafalgar class fleet submarines.
The contract has been awarded following competition and covers the provision of four boat sets and supporting shore equipment. At a price in excess of £180 million it is the largest single sonar order placed for some time and will continue to keep the Royal Navy at the forefront of sonar technology and capability into the foreseeable future.
The contract is likely to create a number of new jobs and will safeguard hundreds of others at FTSS and at many sub-contractors, and will be welcomed by British industry.