CONFIDENTIAL
2ND DRAFT
longer term is being studied; the airborne early warning task is
at present undertaken by the Gannet and Shackleton force.
Ground Attack
20. Improved conventional weapons for increasing the Royal Air
Force's air-to-ground attack capabilities in the 1980s are being
studied.
GUIDED WEAPONS
Sea Wolf
21. Sea Wolf, a short-range point defence surface-to-air guided-
weapon system, is being developed primarily to provide ships with
a defence against fast low-flying missiles. Its capability to
intercept incoming missiles has already been demonstrated and parts
of the system have been installed in HMS Penelope for sea trials.
Sea Wolf is planned to come into service with Type 22 frigates
later in the decade.
SS11 Replacement
22.
Evaluation continues of an anti-tank guided weapon for use
from helicopters to replace the French SS11 missile 7.
Skua
23. Project definition is complete on the Skua all-weather anti-
ship missile and some initial development is taking place. Skua is
designed to be fitted to Lynx helicopters and will provide destroyers
and frigates with a light over-the-horizon strike capability_7.
Underwater-to-Surface Guided Weapon (USGW)
24. Studies are being made of an underwater-launched air-flight
guided-weapon system, for use as the main armament of the submarine
fleet against surface ships from the early 1980s_7.
Sparrow Improvements
25.
A new British homing head and fuze is in full development for
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CONFIDENTIAL
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