§ Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to provide the Royal Navy submarine fleet with an extra high frequency communications capability compatible and interoperable with that now used by the US Navy in their submarine communications; and if he will make a statement. [157737]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Ministry of Defence has identified a requirement for the Royal Navy's submarine fleet to be fitted with a satellite communications capability that is compatible and interoperable with the US Navy's next234W generation Extremely High Frequency (EHF) system. Options to meet the requirement are being evaluated as part of the SKYNET 5 programme.
Related studies to address the integration of EHF satellite communications terminals into submarines are just getting under way.