The British defense ministry said Tuesday it had received a US request to upgrade radar sites at Fylingdales and Menwith Hill, in the north of England, as a prelude to deploying the global missile shield.

But Britain's involvement in the "son of Star Wars" scheme could be deeper than just the use of its radar facilities, the left-of-centre Guardian reported.

The daily quoted government sources as saying that unofficial talks were underway to base rocket batteries here, devoted to the task of shooting down incoming enemy missiles.

"It is a natural development. It would be silly to think that will not happen," a government source told the Guardian, which added that the scheme raised the prospect of widespread opposition in Britain.

The initial plan is reportedly for 10 ground-based interceptor missiles to be based in Alaska in 2004, and another 10 in Alaska and California by 2006.

Its announcement by the US earlier this week came as a war with Iraq looms and amid heightened US concern over North Korea's resumed nuclear weapons program and missile exports.

Bush, who has grouped Iraq and North Korea with Iran in an "axis of evil," has warned of the threat posed by such so-called "rogue states" and their potential alliance with terrorists like those behind last year's September 11 attacks.

SPACE.WIRE