Britain has expressed willingness to agree to a US request to upgrade a key radar station in northern England for President George W Bush's controversial missile defence project.
The upgrade at the Fylingdales base in Yorkshire, northern England - which would be paid for by the US - would mostly be to the hardware and computers at the base.
"I have come to the preliminary conclusion that the answer to the United States request must be 'Yes', and that we must agree to the upgrade as proposed," Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told parliament.
"It does not commit us in any way to any deeper involvement in missile defence, although it gives us options to do so should we decide at this at a later date," Mr Hoon said.
The comments will heighten speculation that US anti-missile interceptor rockets will be allowed on British soil as part of the so-called "son of Star Wars" project.
Fylingdales already hosts one of five US ground-based early warning radars, in operation since 1963.
The US missile programme will be deployed on a limited basis from 2004, with the first launchers to be installed at Fort Greeley in Alaska.
AFP