§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is currently taking to test Israeli unmanned surveillance aircraft as an alternative to the Phoenix project. [20060]
§ Mr. Freeman[Pursuant to his reply, 5 April 1995, Official Report, c. 1142]:, the Ministry of Defence has now agreed with GEC-Marconi Avionics an additional programme of work on Phoenix to resolve the remaining technical difficulties and to demonstrate satisfactory system performance. This work is expected to last about one year and, while it is in progress, we will examine potential alternative systems, in case it does not prove practicable to bring Phoenix up to an acceptable standard. Our examination of alternatives has already begun and will cover all systems, including Israeli ones, which are likely to provide a capability that comes reasonably close to the Army's requirement.