APPENDIX 3
Memorandum submitted by the Defence Manufacturers
Association (2 January 2002)
I am replying to your request of 18 December 2002
for written submissions on the subject of Missile Defence.
The Defence Manufacturers Association of the
UK would welcome a decision by the Government to agree to the
request from the US Department of Defense for the upgrading of
early warning radar facilities in the UK for use in a possible
missile defence system.
Such a decision would have considerable benefits
for the UK defence industry. Suitably negotiated it would create
or sustain a significant number of high quality jobs in the sector.
It could lead to the transfer of important technology from the
US to the UK and further enhance the increasingly important defence
industry links between the two countries. It would be of particular
benefit if the UK, in exchange for its agreement, pressed for
an opening up of the US market to bids from UK defence contactors
seeking to export to the US.
Apart from these commercial benefits the UK
should give careful consideration to its own security position
for the future. Participation at this stage retains the option
for the UK to become part of the defence system soon after it
is developed if the threat by then justifies it. Starting from
scratch at some future time, either alone or in partnership with
European allies, is likely to be much more costly and take much
longer. Alternatively, we would be obliged to procure the US system
but without the beneficial operational and industrial participation
that supporting the project at this stage would provide.
I am copying this response to the Secretary
of State so that he is aware of our position prior to giving evidence
to the Committee on 15 January 2003.
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