"However, while the budget for Britain's national security will be boosted by "significantly more" than the average, Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, is preparing to make major cuts in the Armed Forces after receiving only a one per cent increase.
The Royal Air Force is facing the most far-reaching cuts in its 86-year history and Mr Hoon will tell the Commons next week that the service will lose up to 7,000 personnel - more than 14 per cent of its total strength of 48,635. The Royal Navy will lose up to 3,000 sailors and the Army is to shed at least four battalions.
The cuts are designed to "rebalance" the Armed Forces and to claw back a £1.9 billion budget deficit. They will, according to defence chiefs, have the effect of making both the RAF and the Royal Navy subservient to the Army, not just in strength but also in operational importance - a galling prospect for the Navy which has seen itself as the "senior service".
Under the shake-up, almost the entire RAF Regiment, which is responsible for security at bases, will be disbanded. The two remaining Jaguar squadrons will also go as will all of the RAF's 39 Puma transport helicopters and 79 GR7 Harrier jump jets. Up to five air bases will close. The cuts will also exact a heavy price from the Navy, which will lose at least six surface ships, two Type 23 frigates and four Type 42 destroyers and one, possibly two, nuclear submarines.
The Army is expected to lose at least four out of 40 infantry battalions and up to 50 Challenger II tanks and 50 Warrior armoured infantry vehicles. The Army Air Corps will also suffer the prospect of losing its entire fleet of 118 two-seat Gazelle reconnaissance helicopters.
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Sunday Telegraph 11/07/2003
so the Rock apes have an impressive past but looks like no future.