So the MOD has ordered a load of extra Chinooks for our troops in Afghanistan. Admirable, but what have we had to sacrifice? The early withdrawal of the Harrier fleet, the closure of RAF Cottesmore and a reduced tactical capability in terms of reconaissance. Plus the Tornado fighter fleet will be slashed. Whilst this might help is in Helmand Province, let’s hope we never have a war close to home that we have to win in the air.
Choppers will not begin to arrive until 2012, Nimrod will be long gone, JSF order paired back and what have we got to blame for this – I wish I could say it was a Labour Government but it is surely the piss poor MOD management and procurement strategy. Talk about not having had a Defence Review since 1998 – it should be on-going, updated with every change in world politics – we should not need a new Defence Review that will take 2 years to complete – we need a bit of common sense and leadership in the MOD but sadly that will not be forthcoming.
The MOD will never be effective so long as it is ruled by politicians. They have a lot of influence over decisions like this and they only care about the next election.