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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'No rush' to redeploy helicopters | 'No rush' to redeploy helicopters |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The UK's military will not be rushed into redeploying Merlin helicopters in Afghanistan as "we won't jeopardise safety", the defence secretary says. | The UK's military will not be rushed into redeploying Merlin helicopters in Afghanistan as "we won't jeopardise safety", the defence secretary says. |
| The aircraft were used for six years in Iraq but need modifications, such as new rotor blades, for higher altitudes. | The aircraft were used for six years in Iraq but need modifications, such as new rotor blades, for higher altitudes. |
| "These are not family cars," said Bob Ainsworth. "There are a number of them that are broken and need repairs." | "These are not family cars," said Bob Ainsworth. "There are a number of them that are broken and need repairs." |
| The helicopters are on display at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, following the return of the last two from Iraq. | The helicopters are on display at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, following the return of the last two from Iraq. |
| A flypast took place to celebrate their achievements. | A flypast took place to celebrate their achievements. |
| Senior RAF and Joint Helicopter Command officers gathered at the base, along with friends and families of personnel from the armed forces. | Senior RAF and Joint Helicopter Command officers gathered at the base, along with friends and families of personnel from the armed forces. |
| 'Very capable' | 'Very capable' |
| "We'll get the first Merlins out [to Afghanistan] before the end of the year - December if we can - but we won't jeopardise safety," Mr Ainsworth told BBC News while discussing the ongoing British operations in Afghanistan. | "We'll get the first Merlins out [to Afghanistan] before the end of the year - December if we can - but we won't jeopardise safety," Mr Ainsworth told BBC News while discussing the ongoing British operations in Afghanistan. |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth: "We won't jeopardise safety" | |
| "This is about the most capable aircraft we've got from the protection point of view. | "This is about the most capable aircraft we've got from the protection point of view. |
| "Nothing can ever be totally safe but the Merlin is a very capable, very well protected helicopter." | "Nothing can ever be totally safe but the Merlin is a very capable, very well protected helicopter." |
| The UK's forces were "better-equipped than the British contingent has been in recent times", Mr Ainsworth added. | The UK's forces were "better-equipped than the British contingent has been in recent times", Mr Ainsworth added. |
| Wing Commander Nigel Coleman said the display at RAF Benson marked "the culmination of four-and-a-half years of operations in Iraq, and it's great to have the guys back in one piece". | Wing Commander Nigel Coleman said the display at RAF Benson marked "the culmination of four-and-a-half years of operations in Iraq, and it's great to have the guys back in one piece". |
| He said Merlin helicopters, and the crews flying them, faced "significant challenges" in Afghanistan, where some military bases were at altitudes of thousands of feet. | He said Merlin helicopters, and the crews flying them, faced "significant challenges" in Afghanistan, where some military bases were at altitudes of thousands of feet. |
| "Any aircraft will struggle for performance in those kinds of conditions," he added. | "Any aircraft will struggle for performance in those kinds of conditions," he added. |
| Four Merlin helicopters took part in a flypast at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire | |
| Mr Ainsworth's comments about the redeployment of helicopters follow several weeks of debate about whether UK forces have sufficient aircraft to defeat the Taliban. | Mr Ainsworth's comments about the redeployment of helicopters follow several weeks of debate about whether UK forces have sufficient aircraft to defeat the Taliban. |
| Last month Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown told the Daily Telegraph that "we definitely don't have enough helicopters", but later softened his remarks to say there were "enough helicopters for immediate operational needs". | Last month Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown told the Daily Telegraph that "we definitely don't have enough helicopters", but later softened his remarks to say there were "enough helicopters for immediate operational needs". |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown added: "For the operation we are doing at the moment, we have the helicopters we need." | Prime Minister Gordon Brown added: "For the operation we are doing at the moment, we have the helicopters we need." |
| But Mr Brown was "in denial" about the matter, Conservative leader David Cameron claimed, while the Liberal Democrats' defence spokesman, Nick Harvey, said it was "perfectly clear" this was untrue. | But Mr Brown was "in denial" about the matter, Conservative leader David Cameron claimed, while the Liberal Democrats' defence spokesman, Nick Harvey, said it was "perfectly clear" this was untrue. |