Sunday Times - August 25, 2002
Falklands flying ace warns of gap in air defence
Nicholas Rufford
A TWICE-DECORATED hero of the Falklands war has accused the Ministry of Defence of endangering the lives of British service personnel by scrapping the fighter aircraft that protects Britain’s naval fleet.
Commander Nigel Ward, a former combat pilot who shot down three Argentine warplanes, has written to defence chiefs warning that British warships would be at the mercy of anti-ship missiles similar to or better than the Exocet, the weapon used against the British fleet during the conflict in 1982.
The letter from such a distinguished former naval officer, who was also a weapons adviser to the defence ministry, will reignite the controversy over the scrapping of the 29 Sea Harriers as the navy prepares to send ships to the Gulf in support of possible action against Iraq.
Ward’s letter to Sir Nigel Essenhigh, the first sea lord, who retires shortly, says “many lives would be put at risk” if the decision by Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, is not reversed. It points to deep divisions in the upper echelons of the MoD.
“I realise that you (Essenhigh) may have fought tooth and nail against this errant decision . . . It is sad that you have decided to retire earlier than planned but . . . I trust you will use the time remaining to you in office to question the untimely demise of the FA2 (Sea Harrier).”
Ward said the “fatal” decision to withdraw the Sea Harrier before a replacement was introduced meant ships would have no protection against missiles of the type being acquired by a growing list of states including Iran, Syria, Libya, China and North Korea. Exocets fired during the Falklands conflict sank HMS Sheffield and the Atlantic Conveyor.
The MoD announced in February that Sea Harriers would be withdrawn between 2004 and 2006, saving an estimated £109m. Critics point out that is less than the cost of two of the new Eurofighters, on which a total of £2 billion is being spent. The decision has already been questioned by the Commons defence committee.
Ward received the Distinguished Service Cross after the Falklands war, during which he commanded 801 squadron.
The withdrawal of the Sea Harriers is said to have led to the early departure of Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, the chief of defence staff.