Office of the Historian

198. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Jones) to Secretary of Defense Weinberger1

Washington, April 30, 1982

SUBJECT

  • UK Request for Support (TS)

1. (TS) The UK has requested (TAB A)2 assistance in converting RN SUB HARPOON missile for air launch. Specifically, they request conversion kits (20), necessary test equipment, training for weapons personnel, OT and E data HARPOON from Navy P3 A/B/C aircraft, and missile employment advice from Navy HARPOON-experienced aircrew. The intent is to make 2 NIMRODS HARPOON capable; however, the decision to incorporate this capability has not yet been made.

2. (TS) The data requested by MODUK has been prepared by the Navy Staff (TAB B).3 This data and the referenced missile training and employment assistance can be made available to the UK if the request is approved.

3. (TS) Request your agreement4 on fulfilling the UK request.5

David C. Jones
General, USAF
  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–86–0042, UK 1982. Top Secret. Iklé forwarded the memorandum to Weinberger under an April 30 covering memorandum in which Iklé recommended that Weinberger agree to the British request. Iklé also noted that the response to Jones (see footnote 5 below) had been coordinated with Burt. A stamped notation on the covering memorandum indicates that Weinberger saw the memorandum on April 30. (Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–86–0042, UK 1982)↩
  2. Not found attached.↩
  3. Not found attached.↩
  4. This word was added as a handwritten replacement for the word “decision.”↩
  5. Weinberger signed an April 30 memorandum to Jones, which reads in part: “I agree with your recommendation, as detailed in your 30 April 1982 memorandum, to provide the requested information to the UK concerning the conversion of RN SUB HARPOON missiles for air launch.” (Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–86–0042, UK 1982)↩