Military hits out at Nimrod cuts
Former military chiefs have hit out at the government’s decision to scrap nine new maritime patrol jets.
An order for nine MRA4 Nimrods was cancelled as part of the strategic defence and security review announced last October.
That decision has opened a “massive gap in British security”, former senior military figures from all three services have argued in a letter to the Telegraph.
Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig, former chief of the defence staff Major General Julian Thompson and Admiral Sir John ‘Sandy’ Woodward are among the signatories.
“Nimrod would have provided long-range maritime and overland reconnaissance, anti-submarine surveillance, air-sea rescue co-ordination and reconnaissance support to the Navy’s Trident submarines,” they wrote.
While some of these roles will be covered by frigates, helicopters and the C130 Hercules, the “strategic multi-role contribution of Nimrod” will not be replicated, the six argued.
“In a week when reports suggest that the government is seeking to impose even more severe cuts on the defence budget, it is not perverse to suggest that the gap left by broken Nimrods should be readdressed,” the letter concluded.
Its other signatories were Air Vice Marshal Tony Mason, Air Commodore Andrew Lambert and Major General Patrick Cordingley.
Cancelling the overspent and delayed Nimrod project will save £2 billion over ten years, the Ministry of Defence said in response.
