There is widespread speculation that the Ministry of Defence budget will come under considerable pressure over the next few months.
The future of the Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers is uncertain, the RAF may close a base in
Cyprus and the order for the 25 A400M transport aircraft may “go down the leg side”.
Given the depth of the crisis in the public finances and the need to ensure that our land forces have to be fully equipped whilst fighting New Labour's wars I believe that it is inevitable that the other services will be asked to make savings.
If cuts have to be made, I hope that the MOD "bean counters" don’t sacrifice the new aircraft carriers.
The US Navy has shown the importance of the super-carrier in the modern world – they operate 11 nuclear powered vessels (and have 2 under construction) which allows the US Government to project its military muscle in a way that no other nation can match.
Whilst the future British carriers won’t be in the same league as their
US counterparts (smaller, conventionally powered etc) they will be important in providing proper air support to our land forces.
If the Navy has to make cuts then let’s have a proper debate on the need for renewing / replacing the Trident submarines – an elaborate & expensive weapons system that we all hope is never employed!
Any readers of Douglas Carswell MP’s blog will know he has strong (and indeed compelling) arguments that our armed forces could be properly equipped and a much lower cost were the MoD’s procurement policies changed.
It will be interesting to see what stance a future Tory Government will take on this issue.
