BOEING has been awarded the contract to carry out upgrade work to early warning station RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire.

The Pentagon in Washington has appointed Boeing, a leader in developing military aircraft, to improve systems at the base on the North York Moors as part of the United States Government's "Son of Star Wars" anti-missile system.

The Boeing Company is the largest aerospace company in the world, and the leader in manufacturing both commercial jetliners and military aircraft.

An American team will start updating computer software and hardware in March and is expected to finish in 2005. They will install more rapid computers, new communication links and modern graphic displays.

Boeing has also been awarded a contract for 15 ground-based interceptor missiles to be installed in America as part of the defence system. The contract is worth 823 million dollars to Boeing.

Wing Commander Chris Knapman said it was important to underline that no ground-based interceptor missiles were due to be installed at Fylingdales and that no visible changes would be made.

"The UK has not made a commitment to anything other than an upgrade of the systems at Fylingdales as part of the US defence system," said Wing Commander Knapman.

"This is a US project, they're leading the work. North York Moors National Park Authority has been involved in all discussions."

The authority has ruled that the work does not need planning permission. "It's been done without any real consulting," said Joyce Tod, of Greengate, Malton. "They said a consultation was carried out, but I don't think it was done properly."

Updated: 10:40 Tuesday, November 04, 2003