MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

RN will dispose of 3 destroyers and 3 frigates.

Deep cuts in the British armed forces as part of a modernization plan (“Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities”) were announced this Wednesday in Parliament by Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon this Wednesday.

The cuts in a four year period include 7,500 jobs in the Royal Air Force, 1,500 in the Royal Navy and 10,000 civilian posts plus a reduction in the number of tanks, aircraft and ships.

Mr. Hoon said that the threats to Britain's interests in the XXIst century are far more complex than was foreseen following the end of the Cold War and "that is why the Defence White Paper signaled that we should continue to modernize the structure of our armed forces to embrace new technology and to focus on the means by which they can work together with other government agencies to meet the threat of international terrorism and the forces of instability in the modern world".

Besides the almost 20,000 jobs to be cut the list includes restructuring four infantry battalions, three in England and one in Scotland.

Three T 42 destroyers and three T 23 frigates to be taken out of service by mid 2006; withdrawal of one RAF Tornado F-3 defense squadron and that of two Jaguar squadrons will be advanced to 2006 with the final going in 2007.

RAF Coltishall station in Norfolk holding most Jaguars, will be closed by late 2006.

In his message to the Royal Navy regarding the implementation of the changes, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Alan West, said the ships affected over the next two years are Cardiff, Glasgow, Newcastle, Norfolk, Marlborough, Grafton plus MCMVs Sandown, Inverness, Bridport, Brecon, Cottesmore and Dulverton.

Sir Alan West further on indicated that the "size of the SSN force (nuclear subs) will reduce to 8 in 2008, and delays to Astute will mean that there will be no early disposals in the short term and indeed Superb will be extended in service by one year".

"In parallel with these reductions, there will be a commensurate reduction in peace time deployments. This will ensure we keep our force levels and tasks in balance. As a result of these reductions the Navy will reduce from some 37,500 to around 36,000 people".

Sir Alan West emphasized that in spite of the reductions:

"The government has re-confirmed the central role in joint expeditionary warfare that the Navy will continue to play.

The core capabilities of the Navy remain intact and in particular: the carrier strike capability continues to lie at the heart of the versatile maritime force with CVF due to enter service from 2012. The amphibious forces will continue to benefit from new investment and ships.

We must continue the shift in emphasis away from measuring strength in terms of hull numbers and towards the delivery of military effects. The new ships and submarines will be far more capable than those they replace. The T45, Astute and LSD(A) programmes will begin delivering ships in the next few years. Work continues in the MOD on the MARS (future RFA, JCTS (replacement PCRS/Argus) and FSC programmes".