§ Baroness Lockwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to improve the Armed Forces' equipment capability as a result of lessons learned from Kosovo. [HL3561]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanOur analysis of operations in Kosovo identified a number of important equipment capability lessons. The highest priority of these is the need for improvements to our capability to attack static, mobile and armoured targets with precision in all weather conditions, and to improve the security of our communications.
In March we announced trials of the integration of Maverick anti-armour missiles on Harrier GR7 and of enhanced security for air-to-air communications on key aircraft types.
We have now decided that we will proceed with the procurement of Maverick missiles as soon as the integration trials are successfully completed, subject to satisfactory contract negotiations. Maverick is a proven, off-the-shelf precision guided missile that we can procure very quickly and it will give us a better capability to attack mobile and static targets by day and night. We expect the missiles to be available towards the end of this year.
On air-to-air communications, most of the trials have been completed and we will now go ahead with the fitting of the system to a number of aircraft.
Furthermore, we have decided to procure as early as possible weapons that will provide the RAF with a new precision guided all-weather bombing capability. Use of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology will allow us to overcome the problems caused by poor weather during Kosovo. Subject to a successful flight trial, the weapons should be available next year.