ヘリコプターs bought by MoD two years ago are still not ready for Afghan frontline

By Christopher 漏れる, Mail on Sunday Defence Editor/Home 事件／事情／状勢s Editor
Updated:

Six 軍隊／機動隊-carrying ヘリコプターs bought from Denmark more than two years ago are still not ready for 戦闘 on the Afghan frontline.

When the Merlin Mk3As were bought for £174million in June 2007, 大臣s said they would be going to war by the middle of 2008.

But now the 省 of Defence has 認める that modifications to 昇格 the Merlins for 戦う／戦い are still incomplete and 操縦するs need months more training before they can 飛行機で行く them to take on the Taliban.

Merlin Mk3A helicopters

Waste: Two of the Merlin Mk3As which are still not ready to take on the Taliban

Last week, The Mail on Sunday 明らかにする／漏らすd that British 軍隊／機動隊s are so short of ヘリコプターs, they are 存在 保釈（金）d out by the ロシアのs.

When the Mk3As were 配達するd, the then Defence 調達 大臣 Lord Drayson said the MoD was 'moving 今後 the 事業／計画（する） at 速度(を上げる）'.

He 追加するd: 'We will be able to 供給する a 重要な 上げる to our support ヘリコプター 軍隊 in under 12 months.'

But last night 上級の RAF sources said that though the Mk3As have been fitted with higher-tech 合成物 rotor blades, ミサイル 反対する-手段 systems and 改善するd communication 器具／備品, they still need new レーダ and avionics wiring changes.

Last week, Defence 長官 （頭が）ひょいと動く Ainsworth - who is '破産した／（警察が）手入れするing a gut' to send more ヘリコプターs to the frontline - watched the Mk3As taking part in a training 演習 on Salisbury Plain.

His visit followed strident 需要・要求するs to Gordon Brown by General Sir Richard Dannatt for extra ヘリコプターs to be （軍隊を）展開する，配備するd to Afghanistan.

The スキャンダル of the Mk3As follows that of eight Chinook ヘリコプターs designed for Special 軍隊s use which have been lying 活動停止中の since 配達／演説／出産 in 2001.

The Chinook 3As, which cost £259million, cannot be flown because the MoD failed to ask Boeing for the 権利s to the avionics ソフトウェア.

They are now 存在 downgraded into 公共事業（料金）／有用性 ヘリコプターs, at a cost of £60million.

影をつくる／尾行する Defence 長官 Dr Liam Fox said last night: 'There are those fighting for this country who wonder whether 労働 is 関心d more with its own political 生き残り than the 生き残り of our 武装した 軍隊s.'

Britain will 支払う／賃金 Denmark a その上の £174million to event ually 取って代わる the Mk3As.

An MoD spokeswoman said: 'We cannot say yet when the individual Mk3A airframes will first enter theatre.

'The Mk3As were 購入（する）d to 高める the Merlin (n)艦隊／(a)素早い, which at the time was （軍隊を）展開する，配備するd in Iraq.

'At the time of 購入（する）, they were not fitted to Afghan theatre 入ること／参加（者） 基準.

'Subsequently, we have had to 変える 代案／選択肢 model Mk3s to enable their （軍隊などの）展開，配備 to Afghanistan from the end of this year.

'Work is now 進行中で to 変える the Mk3As as 速く as possible.'

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