Aust, helping in ‘gun’ research

Press, 17 November 1984, Page 10

Aust, helping in ‘gun’ research

NZPA-AAP Sydney The Australian Prime Minister, Mr Bob Hawke, has disclosed that his Government had agreed in September to continue research with the United States on a new electro-magnetic "rail gun” designed to fire projectiles near the speed of light. While admitting that his technical understanding of the weapon was limited, Mr Hawke said that he could give “an absolute guaran-

tee” that Australia’s part in the project would be confined to conventional defence systems. Pressed on the issue at a Sydney news conference, Mr Hawke said that the arrangement for collaborative research had been concluded in 1980, and that Australia had agreed in September of this year to its extension. He confirmed that he had been consulted on the mat-

ter and that there had been correspondence with the United States Defence Secretary, Mr Caspar Weinberger. Australia had made it clear in agreeing to the extension of work here that it would not be drawn into any possible future work on anti-ballistic missile defence. The Defence Minister, Mr Gordon Scholes, and the Foreign Minister, Mr Bill

Hayden, had been instructed to monitor any research work in Australia to ensure that that condition was met. Mr Hawke denied that Australia would have little control over the uses to which its work might be put by the United States, and said that Australia would not contribute to research or development that extended the capacity of the “gun” beyond the conventional area.