Ex-defence chiefs attack scrapping of Nimrod
EX-DEFENCE chiefs have labelled the Government’s decision to break up unwanted Nimrod spy planes as “perverse” and say it could damage the UK’s interests.
The BBC has obtained footage of unfinished aircraft being scrapped at BAE’s site at Woodford, near Stockport. The Government decided to axe the £3.6bn Nimrod programme in last year’s defence review saying it would save the Ministry of Defence £2bn over the next 10 years.
But in an open letter to the Daily Telegraph, six ex-defence chiefs said interim measures to fill the gap left by the planes “fall short”.
They wrote: “Destruction of the nine airframes has now begun. Machine tools have been destroyed; several millions of pounds have been saved but a massive gap in British security has opened.
“Vulnerability of sea lanes, unpredictable overseas crises and traditional surface and submarine opposition will continue to demand versatile responsive aircraft.”
The Nimrod contract was signed in 1996 for a total of 21 planes. This has since been scaled back to nine. Two of the giant spy planes have been completed, but will now not enter service.
Around 500 BAE staff work at Woodford – which made 7,000 Lancaster Bombers during World War II – while a similar number are working there as contractors. Another 400 people are involved in project management of Nimrod at BAE Systems’ site at Warton in Lancashire. In December BAE announced nearly 1,000 job cuts at its North West sites in response to the defence review. It is also expected to bring forward the closure of Woodford.
The letter is signed by Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig, Major General Julian Thompson, Air Vice-Marshal Tony Mason, Major General Patrick Cordingley, Air Commodore Andrew Lambert, and Admiral Sir John “Sandy” Woodward.
