July 21, 2004

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is expected to announce large cuts in the armed forces on Wednesday as part of modernisation plans.

It is thought that some 12,000 personnel posts could be lost to fund the development of new hi-tech systems.

Flexibility and the ability to fight far from the UK is key, says Mr Hoon.

The RAF is likely to be hardest hit, with the possible closure of bases and the early withdrawal of Jaguar squadrons, says the BBC's Paul Adams.

Some army regiments could be merged into bigger units, with an overhaul of its structure expected, the BBC's defence correspondent added.

With costly programmes for new planes, ships and submarines already gobbling up cash, other areas have to be sacrificed, he added.

It's a very important thing to keep a balance between the manpower and the application of new technology — Nicholas Soames, Shadow Defence Secretary

The details follow Mr Hoon's white paper Security in a Changing World, presented to the Commons in December.

The Ministry of Defence is planning to invest heavily in hi-tech digital systems to enable it to work closely with American forces.

But there are concerns that the "special skills" of the British armed forces could be lost in the shake-up which is being seen as one of the most radical they have undergone.

The UK's senior general, General Sir Michael Jackson, warned MPs in March that armed forces should be able to fight with the Americans not as the Americans.

'US subsidiary'

Shadow Defence Secretary Nicholas Soames said the planned cuts were "very serious indeed".

He said: "It's a very important thing to keep a balance between the manpower and the application of new technology.

"It is important for Britain to realise, we are not a wholly owned subsidiary of the US army. We fight alongside the Americans not as them.

"What matters at the end of the day is the boots of the ground," he added.

Plans to cut six frigates from the navy would "seriously degrade the navy's ability to do its standing task", Mr Soames said.

Mergers

Up to 15 Army regiments could be merged into larger regional units and others disbanded as part of the shift in priorities towards hi-tech warfare and specialist personnel.

The navy will probably lose a number of destroyers and frigates and one submarine, as well as 5,000 personnel.

The historic Royal Naval College at Dartmouth may also suffer.

The closure of RAF Coltishall, near Norwich, could also be hit with its gates expected to close by gates by 2007.

Real term increases

The shake-up follows Chancellor Gordon Brown's announcement the MoD would receive a 1.4% annual real-terms increase in its budget over the next three years.

But he also demanded £2.8bn in savings on procurement of equipment and back-room support functions by 2007-08.

Overall the budget for armed forces is to rise by £3.7bn, from £29.7bn this year to £33.4bn by 2007-8.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3912283.stm