Defence chiefs put Britain's security at risk - Mirror.co.uk

DEFENCE chiefs have put Britain's security at risk by scrapping a fleet of new Nimrod spy planes, former military leaders warned yesterday.

Ex-commanders from all three services signed an open letter branding the decision to axe the aircraft "perverse".

The MRA4 surveillance jets were to be equipped to detect and sink enemy ­submarines and were expected to play a vital role in protecting Britain's nuclear-armed Trident subs. Half-a-dozen retired military chiefs led by former Chief of the Defence Staff and RAF chief Lord Craig signed an open letter warning that scrapping them will leave a "massive security gap".

It said: "Nimrod would have continued to provide long-range maritime and overland reconnaissance – including air-sea rescue coordination and perhaps most importantly ­reconnaissance support to the Navy's Trident submarines."

Work began this week on dismantling nine planes at BAE Woodford, Cheshire, which cost the taxpayer £4billion to build.

Union leaders called for a halt to scrapping the aircraft, which were supposed to replace an ageing fleet. The demolition job is estimated to be costing another £200million.

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Bernie Hamilton, of Unite union, said: "The lunatics have taken over the asylum when the Government orders the Ministry of Defence to break up £4billion worth of world-class defence equipment.

"The decision to scrap the Nimrod leaves a huge gap in the UK's defence capability and is a betrayal of the workers that played a part in its manufacture."

The head of the armed forces, Chief of Defence Staff General Sir David Richards, insisted the decision to scrap the aircraft had not been "taken lightly". It is hoped taking Nimrod out of service could save the Government £2billion in 10 years.

Sir David said: "Financial pressures meant we had to address the department's spending and tough decisions had to be taken."

But Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said: "This was a rushed decision."