The UK government has agreed to a US request to upgrade a ballistic missile early warning radar at RAF Fylingdales in northern England as part of Washington DC's missile defence programme.

UK defence secretary Geoff Hoon says the upgrade "essentially comprises computer hardware and software modification, and involves no new development or change to the external appearance or power output of the radar". The upgrade does not commit the UK to any greater participation in the US missile defence programme, adds Hoon.

Source: Flight International