Helicopter fleet in firing lines as fears grow over huge defence cuts
Britain's military helicopter fleet could face huge cuts as part of Ministry of Defence efforts to tackle a £37 billion financial black hole, it was reported yesterday.
Defence Ministers are studying options including scrapping the entire fleet of West-built Lynx Wildcats, it was claimed.
The reports came as Defence Secretary Liam Fox signalled numbers of senior military officers and civil servants would be reduced.
The North Somerset MP, just returned from a second Ministerial visit to Afghanistan, outlined his vision for the MoD's future in a speech in London.
He did not give specific details of the cuts being prepared for the Government's three-year spending review, which will be published in October.
But the Evening Standard claims to have seen a secret memo on how to achieve £3.96bn cuts – "flat-rate savings of 20 per cent" – across the rotary wing fleets operated by the Royal Navy, Army and RAF.
One option is said to be to axe the £1.7 billion fleet of 62 new Lynx Wildcats from AgustaWestland in Yeovil, as well as phasing out the Navy and RAF's Sea Kings, and the RAF's Puma helicopter.
Other scenarios see numbers of Chinooks and Apaches – other aircraft AgustaWestland have an interest in – and Merlins reduced, while one proposal includes 21 Wildcats.
The MoD said: "The future configuration of our Armed Forces will be based on the findings of the Strategic Defence and Security Review which is under way.
"Until the review concludes, speculation about its conclusion is entirely unfounded."
The issue is highly politically sensitive for the coalition Government, especially Dr Fox and Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey, North Devon MP.
In opposition they constantly attacked the Labour Government, claiming it was putting the lives of troops in Afghanistan at risk by failing to provide enough helicopters.
And Lib Dem Yeovil MP David Laws, initially in charge of the cuts as Chief Treasury Secretary until his resignation, is one of Westland's strongest supporters.
Dr Fox admitted the process of reducing cuts would "not be painless".
There would not be equal changes across the system, as some parts of the Armed Forces worked better than others, he said.
He promised the MoD would be leaner and less centralised, and said his Afghanistan visit had reminded him supporting British forces on the frontline must take priority over spending on staff in Whitehall.
Dr Fox said the "ghastly truth" was Labour's financial mismanagement had left the MoD with an "unfunded liability" of £37 billion over the next decade.
He ruled out any merger of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF, but they can all expect to see cuts to personnel numbers and equipment projects.
And he stressed the top brass will not escape the cuts, adding: "We cannot demand efficiency from the lower ranks while exempting those at the top."
Reports have suggested the West-based Royal Marines could be brought under the Army's control, one of the Navy's two new aircraft carriers will be axed, and the Army may lose one of its brigades in Germany.
The defence review is not looking at whether to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system, a Government commitment, but Dr Fox is arguing with the Treasury over the £20 billion cost.
Chancellor George Osborne wants the money to come from the defence budget, and Dr Fox said yesterday this was "a conversation that is constantly ongoing with the Treasury".
Shadow defence secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "Today we had more unanswered questions from Liam Fox.
"He still can't tell us how our nuclear deterrent will be paid for – but maybe that's unsurprising as George Osborne seems to be calling all the shots."
The MoD also announced yesterday that two British soldiers serving in Afghanistan have died in separate incidents, bringing the death toll in the campaign to 330.
The first serviceman, from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, was injured in a helicopter incident at a patrol base in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Tuesday.
He was flown back to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, where he died on Thursday surrounded by his family.
The second soldier, from 21 Engineer Regiment, died yesterday after being shot in the Sangin District of Helmand. His next of kin have been informed.
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by Nick, Oldfield Park
Wednesday, August 18 2010, 12:27PM
“Why oh Why are we bothering to replace Trident, we dont need it, it doesnt give us any more power or respect in the world. There is no nation on the planet who are going to use them so why do we need them. The money in these times would be better spent else where in the defence industry or other public services.”
by Horace, Bath
Monday, August 16 2010, 11:08PM
“There are quite a few service personnel sat at desks alongside their much cheaper Civil Service colleagues ...”
by Moe, Bath
Monday, August 16 2010, 10:04PM
“'Facts' aside, the ratio of staff to ships (or tanks, or planes) is utterly irrelevant. The new submarines are allegedly more complicated than the space shuttle, but I've never heard anyone complain that the space shuttle needs more ground staff than the seven astronauts who actually fly it.
In any case, the number of civil servants is also largely irrelevant cost-wise, since the vast majority of the work is done by contractors. Sometimes chains of contractors 12-companies long, all adding profit and overhead, and all spending taxpayers money competing for the work.
If they were serious about increasing efficiency and saving money they would employ *more* MoD staff and stop forcing the MoD to contract everything out.”
by Dave, Larkhall
Monday, August 16 2010, 7:52AM
“I know what unsubstantiated means Jon, and I love the use of it. Get's you and JC going! As for converse, doesn't that also mean the reverse of?”
by Jon, Bath
Sunday, August 15 2010, 11:01PM
“Well, notwithstanding the fact that the Daily Wail might be pushing for it, I agree that The Kelly issue is long overdue for review. So, well deflected there Dave. See, you haven't come out with unsubstantiated (wrong) facts, and I'm conversing with you.”
by Dave, Larkhall
Sunday, August 15 2010, 10:50PM
“Facts right, people and being taken seriously Jon? Not much fun in that, so I leave it to folk such as yourself to enlighten us fun loving individuals. At least the Mail's pushing for opening up the Kelly issue. Now that will be fun!”
by Jon, Bath
Sunday, August 15 2010, 10:34PM
“Hey Dave,
You should work for the Daily Wail - never let your facts get in the way of a good story. 90,000 MOD civil servants (actually less) includes all those civilians working for the Royal Fleet Auxilliary (and deployed), all those working for the Army Base Repair Organisation servicing fighting equipment, and loads of other groups as well. Oh, and the 80,000 'combat forces' you mention is the strength of the Army only. Forget the RAF and RN did we? Or weren't they mentioned either in the drivel you obviously been reading (and repeating here). Get your facts right and people might take you a bit seriously.”
by Dave, Larkhall
Saturday, August 14 2010, 5:35PM
“Yep! Still 'ere JC and still disagreeing with you on this one. Things haven't moved on at all. Just like those rich, powerful plonkers in their shiny leather boots sending our lads out to die in mud up to their necks in the trenches, for no apparent threat upon these shores, so we had the three bears, Bush, Blair, and Brown offering our boys as cannon fodder to a bunch of medieval extremists who have no intention of landing on these islands in the next hundred years.
The only difference is the level of technical advance in the methods of extermination. So yes, I do agree with you that the MOD has some very great brain power within it. Just a pity it's not put to much better use, like say, developing items that can be made by thousands of hands, and exported by the million, thus making loadsa profit, paying loadsa tax, and helping get rid of the national debt. We could even use our lads with their latest killing machines to prevent other countries nicking our inventions, or poking bayonets up the jacksy's of politicians who refuse to back them.
Before you say it. I know they make us a lot of cash with arms exports, but they can do that as well.”
by JC, Bath
Saturday, August 14 2010, 2:20PM
“Thought we might hear from Dave, things have moved on a bit since WW1. I certainly don't disagree about the superfluous layers of senior management, however a lot of the kit now relies on technological support rather than squaddies in uniform. And trust me, the MOD does have an awful lot of good technical expertise.
Any comment on Cameron screaming for more helicopters pre-election, then cutting back once elected?”
by Sailor Sam, Bath
Saturday, August 14 2010, 1:44PM
“Dave - every civil servant sat at a desk is one more service man or woman able to fight on the front line. Things such as guns and helicopters do not arrive by magic - if you get rid of the civil servants, even more service personnel will have to spend their time behind the desk to procure, deliver and support these items.
Think of the police - everyone calls for more bobbies on the beat, but someone has to sit in the police station and handle all the admin work. It's the same with the Armed Forces.”