Talk of ditching jets leads to Rosyth carriers fear
Politicians say they fear the Navy’s new aircraft carriers could be sunk if the country’s fleet of Harrier jump jets is axed.
- By Lars Niven
- Published in the Courier : 29.07.10
- Published online : 29.07.10 @ 07.48am
Reports that the National Security Council discussed the option of ditching the Harriers represent the latest threat to the carrier project.
If the Harriers go, the navy would have no planes to fly from the carriers until the F35, or Joint Strike Fighter, arrives.
Now, Rosyth Councillor Douglas Chapman and Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty are seeking assurances over the Harriers.
Mr Chapman of the SNP told The Courier, "The decision to build two aircraft carriers, but with no aircraft to fly from them, will make Britain a laughing stock.
"This astounding news, that the UK Government is about to axe Harrier aircraft as part of the defence review, will leave the two new carriers, which are due to be constructed at Rosyth, without any aircraft to fly from them.
"Any decision to axe the harriers will leave the carriers without any firepower. Can you imagine the situation where one of the new aircraft carriers would be sailed out to an international trouble-spot with no aircraft on board? It would be just embarrassing beyond belief."
Labour's Mr Docherty added, "If the Harriers are scrapped, we would have a gap where the carriers became little more than glorified helicopter pads.
"It doesn't look as though the Harrier's replacement, the Joint Strike Fighter, will be ready for the carriers. They can't use Tornados or the new Eurofighter Typhoon on the carriers, either.
"I believe we should keep the Harriers."
Mr Docherty said he feared the Ministry of Defence could decide to delay the completion of the first of the ships, the HMS Queen Elizabeth. She is due to enter service in 2016, already two years behind schedule.
Worse still, he has already voiced concern that the Tory/Lib-Dem coalition could ditch the second ship, HMS Prince of Wales, altogether.
The loss of even one of the carriers would be a bitter blow for Fife. Sections of the two huge ships are being built at yards across the UK, before being brought to Rosyth Dockyard for final assembly. More than 4500 jobs, including more than 1000 in west Fife, have been secured during the construction phase at several yards.
Rosyth will benefit from the carrier project long after they have been built, as it is due to refit them over the next 30 years.
Mr Docherty raised the issue at the House of Commons as MPs headed for their summer holidays. He said, "We need to know if the aircraft carriers are going to become glorified helicopter pads for a number of years or whether we are going to see in October a delay to the Queen Elizabeth entering service."
An MoD spokeswoman said, "The Defence Secretary has made it clear that difficult decisions will need to be made. The complex process of a strategic defence and security review will be completed in the autumn. Speculation at this stage about its outcome is unfounded."
The review's findings are expected to be published in October.
02.29pm - 29.07.2010 Daz Hales - Koblenz, Germany Report This
The whole carrier project came from the Blair-Bush marriage. Lying Blair wanted to shoot from the hip like his new buddy. Oh, that they had as many brain cells together as these carriers. The Navy don`t have the manpower nor the money to run these monsters at the same time.
09.36am - 13.08.2010 Major General Robert Fritts - Tucson, USA Report This
The needs of the defence of the UK are not met by Trident Subs. Axe all of these subs and save the 2nd carrier. Stop involvement on the over priced, problem plagued JSF. Install Catapults and arresting gear on the Carriers and buy a full complement of Dassault RafaleM. This is best for the UK .
Add a comment