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The proposal is to cut low priority projects to free-up enough of the Defence budget to fund the purchase of twenty Chinooks over the next five to ten years.
See article for full details (cutting/pasting contravenes FT copyright).
The proposal is to cut low priority projects to free-up enough of the Defence budget to fund the purchase of twenty Chinooks over the next five to ten years.
Sounds crazy, but stick with me; if we need more things, rather than cutting some things that we presumably decided at some point that we might need, why not just increase the defence budget....?
Sounds crazy, but stick with me; if we need more things, rather than cutting some things that we presumably decided at some point that we might need, why not just increase the defence budget....?
I am confused here. I have heard Gordon Brown and other cronies say for ages that we have enough Chinooks, and don't NEED any more. So why is he considering buying some.
I hate to think I may be being cynical here but is it remotely possible he: Was lying in the past Is trying to make up for poor spelling and tidiness in a recent letter Has realised there is an election looming (so is offering jobs for workers in the U.S.A.
That said. Make the order for thirty Chinooks, and then still replace the Seakings And Pumas
Don't be silly 5F6B, that would mean that we couldn't afford to pay developing countries to reduce their carbon emissions so as they can take all the UK's manufacturing industry away
Best guess - this is linked to 28 / 72 re-equipping with CH-47Fs and the Merlins going to Cdo Heli Force.
I guess Benson and Ewelme will be getting a lot noisier than they currently are if this goes through! If it does go through, regardless of your opinion of the Merlin (I happen to think it is a decent bit of kit), this must surely give UK plc quite a significant SH capability when you look right the way across the potential new ORBAT.
Last edited by Melchett01; 10th Nov 2009 at 12:21.
Reason: Correction to shocking apostrophe abuse
The deal includes a license for AgustaWestand to produce, market and sell the Chinook CH-47F as prime contractor to the United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Libya and Egypt
Scrap the aircraft carrier orders, scrap the nuclear deterrent replacement and there should be enough in the budget to finance essential equipment for our forces. The Puma refurbishment and Seakings should be scrapped and replaced with Merlin and Chinooks, as should the pathetic upgrading of the Lynx engines and the purchase of the Future Lynx.
Sounds a bit drastic I know but its the only way to properly equip our brave men and women in the armed forces who are in harms way every day.
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plans to fast-track a big order of Chinook
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over the next five to 10 years. That is fast...
It certainly is, considering procurement of the last batch commenced in 1994 and they still aren't in service. I wonder if that batch will form part of the 20 in the report?
Cheers Wizard ..... point made - strike 72 and replace with 78. That's what you get for typing whilst being nagged at - it's almost like having a Nav in the house!
Then again, maybe 72 would like to get involved and contribute to the current bout of nastiness ?
Didn't CDS just say he expected us to be out of Afghanistan in about 5 years? What are we going to do with all those helicopters and might we need some of the things that will get delayed to allow us to buy them. If we're delaying a REQUIREMENT, I agree that the defence budget should be increased to pay for these helis.
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