LONDON (AP) - Britain has agreed to let the United States use a Royal Air Force base as part of its planned missile defense system, British Defense Secretary Des Browne announced Wednesday. Browne said Menwith Hill, a U.S. military listening station in northern England, would be equipped with communications equipment enabling it to route satellite warnings about missile launches to British and American officials.The defense secretary said in a written statement to lawmakers that the move was "a building block to enhance our national and collective security." He said there were no plans to locate missile interceptors in Britain, but added that the government was keeping the matter under review.
Britain supports the contentious U.S. plan to deploy a missile defense system in Europe, although American officials have indicated that Britain's role would likely be limited to providing early warning information.