GAF to slash Tornado force in 2005

[ORAC]

Flug Revue:

Germany cuts Tiger and Tornado squadrons

Germany's defence minister Peter Struck announced new military cutbacks on Friday. Among the savings necessary to free up money for transforming the forces to an international mission stance are cuts in the buy of Tiger attack helicopters. A second tranche will not be ordered, bringing numbers down to 80. Struck said this should save about 700 million euros.

Struck said about 1.7 billion euros would be saved by taking out of service 80 to 90 Tornado fighter aircraft by the end of 2005.

Ten Albatros torpedo boats would also be retired by the end of 2005.

Struck said the money saved should go towards projects like the purchase of new armoured personnel carriers, tactical air defence missile systems and unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.

Struck said reductions in operational costs and other savings meant military investment could rise by 800 million euros in 2003. Investment should rise from 24.7 percent of the total defence budget in 2003 to at least 27 percent by 2006.

[Man-on-the-fence]

And the A400M..........

[soddim]

Way to go Fritz. Come out loud and clear against war and then make the budget cuts. Makes a lot more sense than the Blaring idiot we've got - he makes the budget cuts and then goes to war!

[Tigs2]

How could we have been so wrong as a nation when we elected El Presidento. When Uncle Tone was on the news just prior to the demonstrations in London (and else where) He said

"of course it is everybodys right to demonstrate, but remember, if you were to do this in Iraq you would be tortured and killed"

I swear there was the hint of envy in his voice

Maybe the Texan Cowboy has promised Uncle Tone that he can be Saddams replacement.

[ORAC]

AW&ST reports that the German navy is to lose it's Tornado force completely.

The 50 navy aircraft will be used by the air force to replace early production standard airframes since they have a higher remaining airframe life.