The United States will formally ask British officials tomorrow to allow U.S. officials to incorporate the Fylingdales early warning radar station into a missile defense system, the London Sunday Times reported yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 11).

The request could also cover a satellite ground station at Menwith Hill; both locations are in North Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom.  The bases would be tied to a missile interceptor base in Alaska.

U.S. officials are also expected to make a formal request to Denmark to upgrade the Thule radar station in Greenland.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon have discussed the issue and officials expect Hoon to submit a statement to the House of Commons on the U.S. appeal.  The request will most likely be approved early next year (David Cracknell, London Sunday Times, Dec. 15).

Some political and public debate on the plan is expected, but the United States would probably not make the request if approval were not assured, Defense News reported today.

“There is little doubt politically the special relationship between the U.K. and U.S. indicates that Washington will be knocking at an open door,” said Paul Beaver, an analyst at Ashbourne Beaver Associates in London.

Use of the Fylingdales base was raised 18 months ago, and the two countries are currently engaged in missile defense information-sharing talks.

A Dec. 9 document released by the British Defense Ministry says, “The additional warning time provided by RAF (Royal Air Force) Fylingdales for a Middle Eastern threat is very substantial” (Andrew Chuter, Defense News, Dec. 16).

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  GET INVOLVED  |  SITE MAP

Back to top