Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth is to cut jobs to fund a new £900 million package for the ongoing security effort in Afghanistan.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has announced plans to cut jobs and close RAF Cottesmore in order to buy 22 new Chinook helicopters and other equipment for Afghanistan.

The purchase of the Chinooks and other equipment for the troops in Afghanistan is part of a £900 million package to improve safety and operational capability over the next three years.

The announcement to purchase more Chinooks comes after recent criticism about the lack of helicopters in Afghanistan.

According to the MOD, it is facing financial pressure and is thus forced to cut thousands of defence jobs and close RAF Cottesmore in Rutland in order to fund the package. The number of Harrier jets will also be reduced.

The RAF’s fleet of Nimrod surveillance aircraft will also be withdrawn from service earlier than expected in March next year and the introduction of the replacement Nimrod aircraft will be delayed until 2012.

The first ten of the 22 new Chinook helicopters will be available in 2012/13 and will take the total Chinook fleet to 70.

When announcing the re-prioritisation of the defence budget yesterday (15 December), Mr Ainsworth said: “These decisions have not been taken lightly but these are tough times for everyone in defence and we must ensure we prioritise spending on operations to achieve success in Afghanistan.

“As we implement these changes, we will ensure that safety requirements are maintained and those people affected are supported.”

Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, added: “This is a significant investment, reflecting the seriousness of our task and the continuing importance of the Armed Forces to the security of our nation and its people.”

The plans have met criticism from all sides. Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, has criticised the government’s decision to cut the country’s defence capability.

Although he welcomed the announcement of more helicopters, he said: “those Chinooks could have been on the front line today, saving the lives of our brave soldiers.

“Instead, they will not be available until 2013 by which time, according to the Prime Minister, we should have substantially transferred security responsibility to Afghan national forces.”

In a report published by the National Audit Office (NAO) earlier this week, it was stated that the current defence programme for the UK was unaffordable.

Amyas Morse, Head of the NAO, said: “The Ministry of Defence has a multi-billion pound budgetary black hole which it is trying to fix with a ‘save now, pay later’ approach.

“This gives a misleadingly negative picture of how well some major projects in MOD are managed, represents poor value for money and heightens the risk that the equipment our Armed Forces require will not be available when it is needed or in the quantities promised.”

Shortly after Mr Ainsworth’s announcement was made, news broke of the death of two more soldiers in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, taking the total number of British personnel deaths there this year to 102.

The MOD’s plans throw further fuel into the fire regarding the war in Afghanistan. The re-prioritised strategy towards defence in the country is pledged by the MOD to ensure success, which still appears a distant notion.

The conflict began in 2001 with the stated aim being the capture of Osama Bin Laden and the removal of both Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Eight years later and the world is no closer to removing the terrorist threat that was behind the 9/11 atrocities.

With the soldier death count rising, it is difficult to resolve the purpose of being in Afghanistan with the number of soldiers dying. A total of 239 UK service personnel have died since 2001 and there have been a total of 1,477 coalition deaths.

Now thousands of jobs are at risk to cover the shortfall in the defence budget. Critics, including the NAO, say the job cuts and base closure are short-term solutions which will cost the government more money in the long run. 

In times of economic crisis, the job losses will be devastating to local economies that depend upon the defence sector for employment. The closure of RAF Cottesmore will have a profound effect on Rutland as the RAF is currently the area’s biggest employer.

While the purchase of much-needed helicopters has been welcomed by most spectators, many are claiming 2012/13 is too late. By this time, it is hoped that most troops will have been withdrawn from Afghanistan. The Chinooks are needed immediately to help the troops fighting now.

Detractors have also highlighted the issue that withdrawing some Harrier jets and Nimrod aircraft, and delaying the introduction of its replacement, could leave Britain vulnerable in the future.

Regardless of the MOD’s decision, Mr Ainsworth’s announcement further serves to emphasise that public opinion is still very much divided on the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.