Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Wednesday, 26 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 December 2003. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Wednesday, 3 December 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Typhoon will be fitted with the technology to make it capable of integrating with a network-centric warfare environment; what assessment he has made of the effect of a lack of network-centric warfare technology on the Typhoon's ability to fight effectively in a network-centric warfare environment.

Answer: Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the Typhoon will be fitted with the technology to make it capable of integrating with a network-centric warfare environment; [140568] (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of a lack of network-centric warfare technology on the Typhoon's ability to fight effectively in a network- centric warfare environment. [140569] Mr. Ingram: We plan to fit Typhoon with technology which will make it capable of integrating with a network-centric warfare environment. Specifically, we plan to equip it with a Multi-function Information Distribution Systems (MIDS). This will allow it to access National, NATO and coalition Link-16 networks. This will enable Typhoon to access threat and targeting data supplied by other aircraft as well as by maritime and land based units. Consequently, no assessment is required of the effect of the lack of such a capability.

Secondary information