Press Release (96)58 18 April 1996

NATO Armaments Directors Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Common System for Anti - Torpedo Defence At their Spring meeting held at NATO Headquarters, Brussels on 16th April, the National Armaments Directors of Italy, Netherlands and Norway joined France, Germany and Spain in signing a Memorandum of Understanding to carry out a Feasibility Study to cooperatively develop a common system for anti-torpedo defence. The system will be designed to detect, classify, localise, evaluate and initiate countermeasures against torpedoes. It will also be designed for fitting on a variety of ships ranging from cruisers to logistic vessels. The contract for the Feasibility Study for about ten million dollars will be awarded by Germany to an industrial consortium. Germany will also provide the contracting agency. The Feasibility Study will last 18 months. Present plans of the six participating nations foresee fitting nearly 100 naval vessels (4 Carriers, 76 Destroyer/Frigates, 13 Auxiliaries). The target for the in-service date is the year 2000. For further information please call: Head Naval Section, Captain Arcangelo Simi, tel: int'l-32-2-707 4294, fax: int'l-32-2-707 4103.