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UK 'COULD NOT FIGHT A WAR WITH IRAN'

Labour defence cuts could put a Tornado squadron out of action

Sunday March 21,2010

By Marco Giannangeli, Defence Correspondent

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BRITAIN does not currently have the military resources to engage in a conflict with Iran, according to a leading defence analyst.

The warning comes after it emerged that RAF Tornado crews are getting barely 10 hours of flying time a month because of drastic cuts imposed by the Government to fund the war in Afghanistan.

This compares with 20 hours a month in the late Eighties, then considered as the “bare minimum for operational effectiveness”.

It follows a decision made in December by Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth that the RAF is to lose a squadron to save cash – and one of the RAF’s seven Tornado squadrons may be in the firing line.

December’s cuts are the clearest indication that all of Britain’s military resources are geared towards the Afghan war.

Currently, Tornado squadrons are deployed there in three-month rotations. Crews receive plenty of flying time there, but it is cut drastically when they come home.

Andrew Brookes, head of The Air League, said: “When it comes to the RAF, it is not a question of trimming the fat. The RAF has been cut to the bone and all resources are being directed to Afghanistan. We are unable to take part in any other conflict that should suddenly occur.”

Iran’s efforts to develop nuclear capability, along with President Ahmadinejad’s boast that he would wipe Israel off the face of the earth, have caused alarm at Nato. Last week the Sunday Express revealed satellite images of a rocket launch site east of Tehran capable of firing nuclear-armed Simorgh missiles.

“There is no doubt that Iran is the single biggest emerging threat to Britain and to peace in the Middle East,” said Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox. “The Iranians must believe every option is on the table – including military action.”

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Tim Ripley, a defence analyst at Jane’s, said: “In December the Government shed £900million from the budget. The cuts have affected our ability to engage with Iran.

“The bitter truth is that, with the exception of a nuclear strike, we would not be able to contribute to any conflict, even in a coalition.”

The MoD said: “In Afghanistan, crews fly about three times the rate as they would in the UK. The RAF concentrates the Tornado effort on safe flying that wholly supports operations in Afghanistan.”