France, UK And Italy Link Up On New Stand-Off Missile
The Royal Air Force's new Storm Shadow missile is also to be supplied to the Italian Air Force under a joint procurement programme managed by the Ministry of Defence's Defence Procurement Agency.
The new deal follows an earlier co-operation agreement with France, and will lead to a common stand-off weapon being used by all three countries' air forces.
The contract for Italy's missiles has been placed with Matra BAe Dynamics (UK) Ltd, with industrial participation arrangements for Italian industry. The contract will be managed by the DPA's Storm Shadow Integrated Project Team at Abbey Wood, Bristol, with an officer from the Italian Air Force joining the team.
The MOD ordered Storm Shadow to meet its Conventionally Armed Stand-Off Missile(CASOM) requirement in 1997. France has ordered a similar missile from Matra BAe Dynamics (France), known as SCALP EG. The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding for exchange of information in 1997, to secure the maximum operational and cost benefits from the two parallel programmes. A new trilateral MOU has now been signed, extending these co- operative arrangements to include Italy.
Defence Procurement Minister Baroness Symons said;
"A common stand-off weapon will now be integrated on to Tornado GR4, Italian Tornado IDS, Eurofighter, Harrier GR7, Mirage 2000 and Rafale aircraft - a significant strengthening of Europe's military capability and operational flexibility. We are determined that Europe should field a stronger and more coherent contribution to NATO, but this initiative will only succeed if our armed forces are capable of meeting our political aspirations. This is a positive step towards that goal."
Background Notes:
**The contract for Italy's missile requirement has been placed by the DPA with Matra BAe Dynamics (UK) Ltd. The Italian company Alena Marconi Systems (AMS) will become a Storm Shadow/ SCALP EG industrial participant for the three national programmes and for future export customers. Matra BAe's principal subcontractors in France and the UK are discussing similar workshare arrangements with other parts of UK industry.
**The full cost of the Italian Storm Shadow programme, including administration and travel costs incurred by the DPA, will be funded by the Italian Government.
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France, UK And Italy Link Up On New Stand-Off Missile
