22 NEW Choppers
Dec 15, 2009 11:53:04 GMT 1
Post by Admin (Annette Andria) on Dec 15, 2009 11:53:04 GMT 1
Job fears as new Chinooks ordered
The defence secretary has announced 22 new Chinook helicopters for operations in Afghanistan but cuts are expected to be revealed later to pay for them.
Bob Ainsworth said the helicopters were being ordered over the next 10 years.
But he is set to announce that they will be paid for by closing an RAF base - understood to be RAF Cottesmore in Rutland - and axing thousands of jobs.
It comes as a report accuses the MoD of driving up projects' overall budgets through short-term cost-cutting.
The BBC understands RAF Cottesmore in Rutland faces closure, with the Harriers based there moving to RAF Wittering before being phased out of service altogether earlier than planned.
The Tornado force based at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Marham in Norfolk will lose one squadron and it is thought parts of RAF Kinloss, in Moray, could be mothballed.
'Short-sighted'
Mr Ainsworth's announcement comes after months of criticism over the number of helicopters in operation in Helmand, in Afghanistan.
The first 10 new Chinooks, made by Boeing, will start to roll off the production line in 2012. In total, the Chinook fleet will increase in size from 48 to 70.
They will fly in Afghanistan alongside Merlin helicopters which arrived in the country last month and will mean the ageing Sea Kings, used by the RAF and Royal Navy, will be retired early.
An extra C17 transport plane could also be on the cards.
“
The defence secretary has announced 22 new Chinook helicopters for operations in Afghanistan but cuts are expected to be revealed later to pay for them.
Bob Ainsworth said the helicopters were being ordered over the next 10 years.
But he is set to announce that they will be paid for by closing an RAF base - understood to be RAF Cottesmore in Rutland - and axing thousands of jobs.
It comes as a report accuses the MoD of driving up projects' overall budgets through short-term cost-cutting.
The BBC understands RAF Cottesmore in Rutland faces closure, with the Harriers based there moving to RAF Wittering before being phased out of service altogether earlier than planned.
The Tornado force based at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Marham in Norfolk will lose one squadron and it is thought parts of RAF Kinloss, in Moray, could be mothballed.
'Short-sighted'
Mr Ainsworth's announcement comes after months of criticism over the number of helicopters in operation in Helmand, in Afghanistan.
The first 10 new Chinooks, made by Boeing, will start to roll off the production line in 2012. In total, the Chinook fleet will increase in size from 48 to 70.
They will fly in Afghanistan alongside Merlin helicopters which arrived in the country last month and will mean the ageing Sea Kings, used by the RAF and Royal Navy, will be retired early.
An extra C17 transport plane could also be on the cards.
“
