BIG U.K. PLANE DEAL

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 15

BIG U.K. PLANE DEAL

<N Z P A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, July 2. Britain is expected to spend about £232m on the purchase of Phantom F 4 fighter planes and Hercules CI3OE transports from the United States. The initial purchases announced in London yesterday are part of a big

transaction revealed in Washington last February. The United States Defence Department said at that time that the Phantoms, capable of a speed of more than 1600 miles an hour, would be delivered to the Royal Air Force in two or three years’ time, but that the transports would go into service in Britain towards the end of 1966. At the time of the original announcement in February, there were newspaper reports

in America that Britain would order about 150 Phantom jets •and 50 or 60 transport planes. The announcement said that Britain would receive equal priority with United States forces in production, development and sunply arrangements, and that financing would be spread over several years through a series of credits so as to ease the impact on Britain’s foreign exchange. It also said that Britain would equip the Phantoms with Rolls-Royce engines, British-made Martin-Baker ejection seats and electronic equipment. The Hercules version to be supplied to Britain is only just entering service with the United States forces. The British Ministry of Aviation has refused to say how many aircraft have been ordered, or give the total cost The ultimate size of the order will not be settled until the review of Britain’s defence strategy is completed in the autumn.