THE UNITED KINGDOM INFRARED TELESCOPE
ANNUAL REPORT
1995 AND 1996

5. Instrumentation Development

Since the previous report, the Ground-Based Telescopes Development Panel (the ``Williams Panel'') has reviewed U.K. ground-based astronomy. The panel proposed for UKIRT an instrumentation programme to enable the telescope to exploit both its upgraded performance and the rapid advances in relevant detector technology. The initial stages of this programme have been funded and are proceeding. Further elements address the role of the UKIRT in the era of 8 - 10 metre telescopes.