UK Announces Defence Technology Development Plan

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced it will develop a Defence Technology Plan (DTP) to direct research and development in the sector.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness Taylor, says the DTP will complement the Defence Technology Strategy, released in October last year.

The DTP will provide clear direction to the research and development (R&D) community, allowing industry and academia to better direct investment in defence science and technology, Taylor says.

"This plan will enable transparent prioritisation and coherence across MoD's R&D programme by setting out the research programme in the form of technology roadmaps derived from key R&D objectives," she says.

"It will form the basis of our national and international partnerships with academia, industry and allies."

Baroness Taylor says the DTP will be operating by late 2008.

By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh