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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| RAF chief's fears on budget cuts | RAF chief's fears on budget cuts |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The head of the Royal Air Force has admitted to worries about painful budget cuts which could follow a planned strategic defence review. | The head of the Royal Air Force has admitted to worries about painful budget cuts which could follow a planned strategic defence review. |
| "The feeling is more pessimistic than optimistic at the moment," Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton said. | "The feeling is more pessimistic than optimistic at the moment," Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton said. |
| Asked by the BBC whether the RAF budget would be cut dramatically, he said "there is certainly concern that that's what is going to happen". | Asked by the BBC whether the RAF budget would be cut dramatically, he said "there is certainly concern that that's what is going to happen". |
| Any cuts would follow a strategic defence review after the next election. | Any cuts would follow a strategic defence review after the next election. |
| We are able to do so much more with the resources we have today Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8137934.stm">Ministers to start defence review | |
| It will be the first full-scale review of the armed forces since the strategic defence review of 1998. | It will be the first full-scale review of the armed forces since the strategic defence review of 1998. |
| According to an influential military think tank, British forces could shrink by 20% by 2016, due to budget cuts. | According to an influential military think tank, British forces could shrink by 20% by 2016, due to budget cuts. |
| The Royal United Services Institute believes the number of trained military personnel might fall from 175,000 in 2010 to about 142,000 in six years. | The Royal United Services Institute believes the number of trained military personnel might fall from 175,000 in 2010 to about 142,000 in six years. |
| Advanced technology | Advanced technology |
| The RAF has already felt the sting of budget cuts. Despite that, Sir Stephen said the air force was not compromising its mission in any way. | The RAF has already felt the sting of budget cuts. Despite that, Sir Stephen said the air force was not compromising its mission in any way. |
| "We are able to do so much more with the resources we have today," he said. | "We are able to do so much more with the resources we have today," he said. |
| "Cutting support costs down has reduced overall costs by billions of pounds." | "Cutting support costs down has reduced overall costs by billions of pounds." |
| More advanced technology helps as well. | More advanced technology helps as well. |
| Sir Stephen said the Eurofighter Typhoon, the main UK fighter jet in service, allowed squadrons to multi-task. | Sir Stephen said the Eurofighter Typhoon, the main UK fighter jet in service, allowed squadrons to multi-task. |
| "You can do all three or four roles in the same mission," he said, referring to the fighter's ability to handle air-to-air combat in addition to air-to-ground fighting. | "You can do all three or four roles in the same mission," he said, referring to the fighter's ability to handle air-to-air combat in addition to air-to-ground fighting. |
| Feverish discussions | Feverish discussions |
| Sir Stephen expressed optimism over the troubled Airbus A400m military transport plane. | Sir Stephen expressed optimism over the troubled Airbus A400m military transport plane. |
| The aircraft is being developed by Airbus, the aircraft division of the defence giant EADS. | The aircraft is being developed by Airbus, the aircraft division of the defence giant EADS. |
| Delays have pushed the programme some 5bn euros ($7bn; £4.4bn) over budget. | Delays have pushed the programme some 5bn euros ($7bn; £4.4bn) over budget. |
| Airbus has asked seven European governments that ordered the planes to inject a further 4.4bn euros into the project, or it will walk away from a fixed-price deal agreed years ago. | Airbus has asked seven European governments that ordered the planes to inject a further 4.4bn euros into the project, or it will walk away from a fixed-price deal agreed years ago. |
| Feverish discussions are between the aircraft maker and top government officials are ongoing, with high-level meetings scheduled for Thursday this week. | Feverish discussions are between the aircraft maker and top government officials are ongoing, with high-level meetings scheduled for Thursday this week. |
| "I think there will have to be some adjustment," Sir Stephen said. | "I think there will have to be some adjustment," Sir Stephen said. |
| "I think an agreement will come out positively. But it will be another three to four years before they will be in service at the RAF." | "I think an agreement will come out positively. But it will be another three to four years before they will be in service at the RAF." |