Presidential helicopters plan may be downed

One of the biggest US orders for British military equipment - to build 28 state-of-the-art helicopters for the use of the President and his entourage - is under threat as the Obama administration has called for a full review.

The Presidential Flight order, placed six years ago, has suffered delays and a near-doubling in price to an estimated $11.2 billion (£7.8 billion) from $6.1 billion.

Now it is mired in American politics. Democratic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, who backed a rival bid to build the fleet, has claimed the contract was a reward for support by Britain and Italy for ex-President Bush in Iraq, and has pressed US Defence Secretary Robert Gates for it to be reconsidered.

The order was won against fierce competition from Sikorsky, which has built the last five generations of US presidential helicopters.

Most of the work on the first five helicopters has been carried out at the AgustaWestland factory at Yeovil in Somerset. Hundreds of jobs are at risk if the order is delayed or cancelled.