New helicopters the truth.

Some things never change, Above is an old Tory campaign poster from post war elections, Which it seems is as valid today as it ever was.

If you have taken today’s defence news from the BBC you can be forgiven for thinking that the government have today delivered the much needed boost to British helicopter shortages. The reality is very different. In fact what has actually happened is a defence cut of at least three important RAF squadrons. Plus the mothballing/ decommissioning of two Royal navel ships, the “narrative” put forward by Bob Jobsworth, Is that an extra 22 much needed Chinook helicopters are going to be made available to our troops in Afghanistan.

In truth they will not arrive before our solders are ready to head home. However in the meantime the loss of two Harrier jump jet squadrons must be seen as a blow to British tactical capability on the ground. The reports of this aircraft as “fighters” is mendacious. The Harrier’s designation is GR9 (Ground Role) they are unlike the (over budget, over due, over rated Typhoon Eurofighter) a true troop support weapon. Designed in the cold war to be deployed in forward bases for the sole purpose of attacking enemy positions. A job they have been doing daily in “The Stan” throughout our troops involvement there

This is the worst kind of politicking. Why is the BBC helping the government perpetrate a blatant misrepresentation? And why if they want to make savings do they not scale down the commitment to orders of Eurofighter (as all it’s other EU punters have done) Instead of cutting back on a weapons platform that is both valued & proven