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Job fears as new Chinooks ordered Cuts made to boost Afghan mission
(30 minutes later)
The government is to buy 22 new Chinook helicopters but the defence secretary will set out other cuts to fund them. The government is to buy 22 new Chinook helicopters and other equipment for Afghanistan but is making cuts to fund them, citing "acute cost pressures".
Bob Ainsworth is due to announce the closure of a military base - understood to be RAF Cottesmore in Rutland - and the loss of thousands of defence jobs. Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said RAF Cottesmore in Rutland would be closed and defence jobs cut, to allow £900m more to be spent on the mission.
The first 10 helicopters are expected to be ready in 2013, for front line use by the RAF in Afghanistan. The first 10 helicopters are expected to be ready by 2012/2013.
Ex-defence secretary Malcolm Rifkind said it was dangerous to cut core budgets to fund the Afghan conflict.Ex-defence secretary Malcolm Rifkind said it was dangerous to cut core budgets to fund the Afghan conflict.
The Ministry of Defence said there was no overall cut in defence spending, adding "we are simply reprioritising". Mr Ainsworth told the House of Commons that there was no overall cut in the £35.4bn defence budget, but that they needed to make "tough choices" to reprioritise spending.
Any new projects would not come at the expense of urgent operational requirements, it said. Any new projects would not come at the expense of urgent operational requirements, the MoD said earlier.
Tuesday's announcement would include £900m to be spent on the new Chinook helicopters, a C17 transport plane and extra counter-IED measures. The announcement also included a C17 transport plane and extra counter-IED measures.
Work for GosportWork for Gosport
The Harrier jets based at RAF Cottesmore will move to RAF Wittering before being phased out of service altogether - earlier than the previously planned withdrawal date of 2018.The Harrier jets based at RAF Cottesmore will move to RAF Wittering before being phased out of service altogether - earlier than the previously planned withdrawal date of 2018.
The Tornado fighter jet force based at RAF Lossiemouth, in Moray, and RAF Marham in Norfolk will also lose one squadron and it is thought parts of RAF Kinloss, also in Moray, could be mothballed.The Tornado fighter jet force based at RAF Lossiemouth, in Moray, and RAF Marham in Norfolk will also lose one squadron and it is thought parts of RAF Kinloss, also in Moray, could be mothballed.
Mr Ainsworth's announcement comes after months of criticism over the number of helicopters in operation in Helmand, in Afghanistan. Mr Ainsworth's announcement came after months of criticism over the number of helicopters in operation in Helmand, in Afghanistan.
We like to support the British defence industry - but when it comes to the crunch, we have to buy the best equipment that money can buy for our armed services Defence Minister Quentin Davies RAF Kinloss 'could be mothballed' MoD accused of 'buy now pay later'We like to support the British defence industry - but when it comes to the crunch, we have to buy the best equipment that money can buy for our armed services Defence Minister Quentin Davies RAF Kinloss 'could be mothballed' MoD accused of 'buy now pay later'
In total, the Chinook fleet will increase in size from 48 to 70.In total, the Chinook fleet will increase in size from 48 to 70.
Mr Ainsworth said: "Helicopter capability has already doubled in the last three years and this future strategy builds on this, ensuring that our armed forces have the very best resources at their disposal." Earlier Mr Ainsworth said: "Helicopter capability has already doubled in the last three years and this future strategy builds on this, ensuring that our armed forces have the very best resources at their disposal."
The Chinooks will be manufactured in the US by Boeing, but maintenance and repairs will provide "a lot of work" at Vector Aerospace in Gosport, Hampshire, said Defence Minister Quentin Davies.The Chinooks will be manufactured in the US by Boeing, but maintenance and repairs will provide "a lot of work" at Vector Aerospace in Gosport, Hampshire, said Defence Minister Quentin Davies.
He was criticised on Tuesday by Defence Select Committee MPs for not giving the full contract to a British firm.He was criticised on Tuesday by Defence Select Committee MPs for not giving the full contract to a British firm.
He told them: "When we can we like to support employment in this country and we like to support the British defence industry.He told them: "When we can we like to support employment in this country and we like to support the British defence industry.
"But when it comes to the crunch, we have to buy the best equipment that money can buy for our armed services. We are buying Chinook because Chinook is simply an incomparable aircraft.""But when it comes to the crunch, we have to buy the best equipment that money can buy for our armed services. We are buying Chinook because Chinook is simply an incomparable aircraft."
ANALYSIS By Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondentANALYSIS By Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent
It's going to make a big difference to British operations in Helmand. However much jam you spread on it, they are short of helicopters. The helicopters are going to make a big difference to British operations in Helmand. However much jam you spread on it, they are short of helicopters.
The trouble is they aren't actually going to be ready until 2012/2013. A lot of people who will say better late than never but we really could do with them now and we could have done with them in the last three years, which has seen increasingly intense fighting.The trouble is they aren't actually going to be ready until 2012/2013. A lot of people who will say better late than never but we really could do with them now and we could have done with them in the last three years, which has seen increasingly intense fighting.
The Chinook is an old airframe but it's being upgraded; it has a digital cockpit. It's really the battle horse of the Afghanistan operation. These things can carry a large number of men and equipment. They are very fast, can do casualty evacuation and they are the most in-demand helicopter for ferrying people, with incredibly brave RAF crews.The Chinook is an old airframe but it's being upgraded; it has a digital cockpit. It's really the battle horse of the Afghanistan operation. These things can carry a large number of men and equipment. They are very fast, can do casualty evacuation and they are the most in-demand helicopter for ferrying people, with incredibly brave RAF crews.
There are more cuts to come and they have said to the MoD you have got to find this money yourselves.There are more cuts to come and they have said to the MoD you have got to find this money yourselves.
This comes down to choosing between the requirements of Afghanistan today and winning that campaign or whether you take a big, long look at what are the big future threats.This comes down to choosing between the requirements of Afghanistan today and winning that campaign or whether you take a big, long look at what are the big future threats.
Commander Joint Helicopter Command, Rear Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, said Chinooks had proved "invaluable" on operations, saying: "This new strategy will dramatically increase our military capability on the battlefield for many years to come."Commander Joint Helicopter Command, Rear Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, said Chinooks had proved "invaluable" on operations, saying: "This new strategy will dramatically increase our military capability on the battlefield for many years to come."
The RAF will fly the Chinooks in Afghanistan alongside Merlin helicopters which arrived in the country last month. Their arrival will mean the ageing Sea Kings, used by the RAF and Royal Navy, can be retired early.The RAF will fly the Chinooks in Afghanistan alongside Merlin helicopters which arrived in the country last month. Their arrival will mean the ageing Sea Kings, used by the RAF and Royal Navy, can be retired early.
But the money will have to come out of the Ministry of Defence's existing budget, which is already overspent.But the money will have to come out of the Ministry of Defence's existing budget, which is already overspent.
This afternoon Mr Ainsworth is likely to announce cuts to the existing Harrier and Tornado fighter jet fleet, a cutback of Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft, and job cuts among both MoD civilians and the armed forces.This afternoon Mr Ainsworth is likely to announce cuts to the existing Harrier and Tornado fighter jet fleet, a cutback of Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft, and job cuts among both MoD civilians and the armed forces.
The leader of Rutland County Council, councillor Roger Begy, said he was "very concerned" about the prospect of RAF Cottesmore closing earlier than first thought.The leader of Rutland County Council, councillor Roger Begy, said he was "very concerned" about the prospect of RAF Cottesmore closing earlier than first thought.
He said they were working with the RAF - the area's biggest employer - to keep skills on the site and in the county.He said they were working with the RAF - the area's biggest employer - to keep skills on the site and in the county.
Former Conservative defence secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said he was "disturbed" by the idea of equipment cuts to fund the war in Afghanistan.Former Conservative defence secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said he was "disturbed" by the idea of equipment cuts to fund the war in Afghanistan.
He said the consensus for many years had been that the costs of fighting wars should be met from the government's contingency fund, not from the core defence budget.He said the consensus for many years had been that the costs of fighting wars should be met from the government's contingency fund, not from the core defence budget.
"That is deeply dangerous, never happened in the past and has the most ominous implications for the integrity of our armed forces.""That is deeply dangerous, never happened in the past and has the most ominous implications for the integrity of our armed forces."
With the recession meaning UK public finances now show a deficit of £178bn, some cost-saving measures have been announced and more huge cuts are expected.With the recession meaning UK public finances now show a deficit of £178bn, some cost-saving measures have been announced and more huge cuts are expected.
Gerald Howarth: "Gordon Brown has been stung by pressure"Gerald Howarth: "Gordon Brown has been stung by pressure"
After Chancellor Alistair Darling's pre-Budget report last week the Institute of Fiscal Studies predicted that defence, higher education, transport and housing were most likely to be hit, in order to protect schools and hospitals.After Chancellor Alistair Darling's pre-Budget report last week the Institute of Fiscal Studies predicted that defence, higher education, transport and housing were most likely to be hit, in order to protect schools and hospitals.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said that with more cuts to come the MoD had been told to "find the money themselves" for the Chinooks needed.BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said that with more cuts to come the MoD had been told to "find the money themselves" for the Chinooks needed.
Mr Davies told the BBC decisions always had to be made about what the government wanted and what it could afford.Mr Davies told the BBC decisions always had to be made about what the government wanted and what it could afford.
Asked about the possibility of RAF airbase closures, he said: "If we can get by with fewer bases that will be a very good thing to do. We don't have bases for the sake of having bases; they are not an end in themselves."Asked about the possibility of RAF airbase closures, he said: "If we can get by with fewer bases that will be a very good thing to do. We don't have bases for the sake of having bases; they are not an end in themselves."
Explosive devicesExplosive devices
Director of the Royal United Services Institute Professor Michael Clarke said the decisions were being made in the absence of a defence review, which had not happened for 12 years and was not due until after the general election.Director of the Royal United Services Institute Professor Michael Clarke said the decisions were being made in the absence of a defence review, which had not happened for 12 years and was not due until after the general election.
Conservative leader David Cameron described the government's defence budget as "shambolic".Conservative leader David Cameron described the government's defence budget as "shambolic".
He told Talksport radio station a "proper defence review" was needed: "We need to sit down and work out what is Britain's role in the world in 2010 and beyond?... and then spend the money required."He told Talksport radio station a "proper defence review" was needed: "We need to sit down and work out what is Britain's role in the world in 2010 and beyond?... and then spend the money required."
The Chinooks decision came as a report by the National Audit Office accused the MoD of driving up projects' overall budgets through short-term cost-cutting.The Chinooks decision came as a report by the National Audit Office accused the MoD of driving up projects' overall budgets through short-term cost-cutting.
On Monday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced £150m would be spent on tackling improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan - which have killed 122 of the 237 British service personnel to have died there.On Monday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced £150m would be spent on tackling improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan - which have killed 122 of the 237 British service personnel to have died there.
The body of the soldier who became the 100th British fatality in Afghanistan this year, Lance Corporal Adam Drane, has been returned to the UK.The body of the soldier who became the 100th British fatality in Afghanistan this year, Lance Corporal Adam Drane, has been returned to the UK.
Meanwhile, the first of 500 extra British troops to be deployed to Afghanistan have arrived in the country.Meanwhile, the first of 500 extra British troops to be deployed to Afghanistan have arrived in the country.
Have you or any of your family served in Afghanistan? Are you affected by issues raised in this story?Have you or any of your family served in Afghanistan? Are you affected by issues raised in this story?
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