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Post by Frenchie on Jul 16, 2009 13:33:38 GMT 1
A lack of helicopters is undermining UK forces' operations and troop protection in Afghanistan, according to an influential committee of MPs. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said a shortage of the craft has not cost lives, despite rising casualties. But the Commons defence select committee says commanders "have to use ground transport" - with worrying effects on protection of personnel. It says the government should buy new craft, rather than revamping old ones. Amid rising UK casualties, critics have claimed troops are ill-equipped. Chairman of the cross-party committee, James Arbuthnot, said: "Operational commanders in the field today are unable to undertake potentially valuable operations because of the lack of helicopters for transportation around the theatre of operations. "Beyond Westminster, what the public are most likely to remember from this row is the fact that the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, admitted to travelling round Afghanistan in an American helicopter because no British one was available."Full Report >>
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Post by cammy on Jul 16, 2009 16:23:14 GMT 1
It is my personal opinion that operational commanders in the field are scared of losing their jobs if they came out and said what they really need in theater, thus telling Parliament only what they want to hear... It's only those commanders that have retired from the forces that start to say whats really needed. I suppose they have nothing to lose... Sad state of affairs when the select committee knows, troops on the ground know, Joe public knows, but GORDON BROWN still thinks that our troops have all they need to do the job... Who was it again that slashed the Helicopter budget by £1.6bn 18 months ago??? Ah yes GORDON BROWN.... Wake up parliment... Give those troops everything they need to fight a war or pull them out...
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Post by Frenchie on Jul 16, 2009 18:12:24 GMT 1
The same government that kept the newly purchased Apaches grounded for over a year because they had cut the budget so much they couldn't afford to train the crews!
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Post by cammy on Jul 16, 2009 20:50:30 GMT 1
British military operations in Afghanistan are being seriously undermined by the shortage of helicopters, with commanders having to rely on ground transport at greater risk to soldiers, a hard-hitting report by the Commons defence committee concluded today. The cross-party report is likely to cause ministers severe embarrassment because they have persistently denied that a lack of helicopters is having any adverse impact on operations. The document warns the problem could get worse as a result of the government's procurement policy. "We ... are convinced that the lack of helicopters is having adverse consequences for operations today and, in the longer term, will severely impede the ability of the UK armed forces to deploy," the cross-party MPs said. "We are concerned that operational commanders in the field today are unable to undertake potentially valuable operations because of the lack of helicopters for transportation around the theatre of operations. "We are also concerned that operational commanders find they have to use ground transport when helicopter lift would be preferred, both for the outcome and for the protection of our forces. "Furthermore, we are troubled by the forecast reduction in [the] numbers of medium and heavy lift battlefield helicopters, which will make this worse." The Tory leader, David Cameron, questioned Gordon Brown over the lack of helicopters in Afghanistan twice in the Commons this week. The Conservatives are expected to return to the issue in a debate on Afghanistan today, but Brown yesterday told MPs: "It is not the lack of helicopters that has cost the loss of lives." Medium and heavy lift battlefield helicopters are playing an increasingly vital role in current counter-insurgency operations such as those in Afghanistan, and will continue to do so in the future, military analysts have said. Today's report criticises the plan to extend the lives of Sea King and Puma aircraft in an attempt to bridge the existing "capability gap", which, the document says, will exist before the introduction of the Future Medium helicopter "in about 10 years". "Given the age of these fleets and the poor survivability of the Puma, extending their lives at considerable cost is not the best option, either operationally or in terms of the use of public money," it adds. "The committee does not believe that the planned life extension programmes will provide adequate capability or value for the taxpayer. "Only a procurement of new helicopters can meet the original objective of reducing the number of types of helicopter in service within the UK armed forces." James Arbuthnot, the chairman of the committee, said helicopters were "becoming increasingly relevant to current and contingent operations". "It is essential that the fleet should be fit for purpose, both in terms of quality and quantity," he added. The committee report describes how the concept of "helicopter capability" depends equally upon manning, equipment, training and support. It praises the work of helicopter pilots and ground crew, but voices concern over a shortage of manpower and lack of time off between operations. Britain's 9,000 troops in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province have fewer than 25 helicopters – 10 Chinooks, five Sea Kings and eight Apache attack aircraft – at their disposal. The problem has been compounded by the purchase of eight Chinooks from Boeing, which were not fitted to British standards. Arbuthnot, a former Conservative defence minister, said: "The time has come to appreciate fully the role of helicopters in modern operations. The MoD should seize the opportunity to recognise the importance of helicopters. "[It should] work towards strengthening all aspects of capability: the number of helicopters in the fleet, the support structure that underpins their operations, manning, both in the air and on the ground, and finally, the training for the full spectrum of capabilities described by the review itself."
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