Talks On Swing-wing

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31364, 9 May 1967, Page 17

Talks On Swing-wing

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) PARIS, May 8. Crucial BritishFrench Ministerial talks on the future of the two countries’ joint swing-wing fight-er-bomber project will be held in Paris today. The British Defence Secretary, Mr Denis Healey, will come from London to review its costly development programine—over winch a question mark still hangs—with the French Armed Forces Minister, Mr Pierre Messmer. The two agreed in broad detail on going ahead with the variable geometry aircraft project in January. But there were differences of view—not least on the spiralling estimated cost of putting the plane into production—and these will come up for scrutiny at today’s meeting. Initial estimates of £2OO million for the project have now jumped by 25 per cent to the £250 million mark. But the French, who were originally reported to be in

doubt about the merits of going ahead with the swingwing project, now say there is no danger of it being scrapped. The main point emerging from week-end press comment in Paris was the fact that a firm agreement to go ahead with the project would keep sales of the American swingwing FIIIK fighter out of Europe. Both aircraft have the same maximum speed of 1600 miles an hour, but the American FIIIK has a 1500-mile operating range against the Anglo-French aircraft’s 1000 miles and would cost £2.6 million each against £1.5 million. Today’s talks are the first of a series of three here this week in which France, Britain and West Germany will be deciding their future operation in major military and civil aviation projects. Tomorrow the three will decide for or against going ahead with a giant short-haul European “air-bus” jet airliner. Beginning on Wednesday, France and West Germany will discuss both the AngloFrench swing-wing project

which the Bonn Government has been asked to join, and the TransaM military transport aircraft.