CONFIDENTIAL
2ND DRAFT
However, it is neither practicable nor economic to make the
individual Systems Establishments self-sufficient in all the
technologies required, particularly where these technologies are
common to all or several environments or relate to a variety of
likely users. The supporting Technology Establishments therefore
concentrate on specific technologies and the appropriate sub-systems (such as engineering equipment or propulsion units).
7.
The first stage of the rationalisation programme announced in the 1973 Statement on the Defence Estimates (Cmnd. 5231) is being
implemented. Proposals under consideration for the second stage, dealing with Establishments engaged in research and development in
the fields of marine, explosives and materials technology, will
take into account the findings of the Defence Review. There will
be consultations with the Staff and Trades Union Sides and other
interested parties before any decisions are taken.
8.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
Collaborative procurement of defence equipment offers the NATO Alliance the best prospect of achieving standardisation of weapons and reducing the high cost of developing complex modern armaments.
Standardisation paves the way for common logistic and training
arrangements and the British Armed Services and industry can fairly
claim to be in the forefront of this movement.
projects currently in development include the Anglo-German-Italian
Multi-Role Combat Aircraft;
Collaborative
two major artillery weapons on which
the three countries are also collaborating; and the Anglo-French
Lynx helicopter. These and other co-operative ventures will account for about 7% of the money to be spent on research and
development in 1975-76.
88
CONFIDENTIAL