London to lose its fighter planes

The Tornado fighter planes which have protected London from air attack following the 11 September atrocities are to be mothballed.

The Ministry of Defence has concluded that the whole of No5 Squadron, responsible for the capital, will have to be "declared down" because of a nationwide lack of fighter pilots - although spending cutbacks are also suspected.

The 15 Tornado F3 fighter planes, based at Coningsby in Lincolnshire, which have been protecting London, are to be grounded and pilots transferred elsewhere.

The nearest air defence base for London becomes Leeming in Darlington, 250 miles away and 25 minutes' flying time from London, but defence chiefs have decided to move two Tornados across to Norfolk, 100 miles away from the capital, which will constitute the quick reaction alert force for London.

The Tories believe the move is highly irresponsible, leaving the capital vulnerable to a terrorist air attack of the kind seen in New York. Shadow defence secretary Bernard Jenkin said he had earlier been given assurances by the Government that there were no plans to cut the number of planes.

"No 5 Squadron has been on standby to protect London from a twin towers-type attack since 11 September," he said today. " There can be no rational, strategic or military reason for this."

Accusing the defence minister Lewis Moonie of giving him false assurances that the squadron would be safe, he said: "This announcement is a complete betrayal."

He believes that apart from the shortage of pilots, the cut has also been driven by the Treasury demands to cut costs, amid concern that the RAF is badly overspent. The mothballing of No 5 Squadron would save around 4,500 flying hours a year and around £27million from the defence budget.

The country has five air defence squadrons, but defence officials are worried about the manning levels. It should have 1,484 pilots but is 131 short.

The MoD has argued that as Coningsby is closing before 2003 to take the new Euro-fighter plane, it makes sense to close it early and have four fully manned squadrons, rather than five incomplete ones.

However, there is concern that the move will mean Britain now has between 50 and 55 fighter planes, instead of the 65 planes it is supposed to be able to deploy.

The cost of military operations abroad, such as the peace-keeping force sent to Afghanistan and Macedonia, has contributed to funding difficulties.

According to The Daily Telegraph, money for the operations is supposed to come from contigency reserves, but the Treasury has been questioning the need for the increase in spending.

The long-term investment needed for the Government's Strategic Defence Review, mapping out the future of the armed forces, also appears to be uncertain.

Is London vulnerable to attack?