UK may host 'son of Star Wars'missiles

Britain is one of two European countries being considered by the US for an anti-ballistic missile interceptor site as part of its controversial "son of Star Wars" defence system.

If the development goes ahead, it would be a dramatic escalation of Britain's involvement in the system intended to detect and destroy missiles aimed at America or its allies.

The UK agreed last year to allow the upgrade of one of its radar stations, Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, for use in the programme.

The new development would place the anti-missile missiles, together with 10 launch pads, a runway and a service base, on UK soil. The controversial-development could bring similar protests to those at Greenham Common where US cruise missiles were based in the Eighties. Opponents say missile defence is unnecessary and expensive and would make us a target.

In testimony to the US Congress, the head of the Missile Defense Agency, Lieutenant-General Ronald Kadish, revealed that the US was considering erecting an interceptor site in Europe beginning in 2006 to protect the continent and back up the capabilities shielding the US.

"The location of this site is still subject to negotiation," he said. US sources told the Standard the two candidate countries for the site were Britain and Poland. Warsaw has publicly offered to host the interceptors, but one source told Jane's Defence Weekly: "Don't count the Brits out."

America's two initial interceptor sites will be based in Alaska and California to deal with the threat from North Korea. But the US also needs a base east of its shores to protect against the potential threat from Iran, Syria and other "states of concern" in the Middle East.

The Ministry of Defence insisted last night that the US had made no specific request.