More Helicopter Capacity for Afghanistan In Rebalanced Equipment Programme

>AgustaWestland emerges as the clear winner from the British defense measures announced Dec. 11, which confirm Future Lynx and fund engine upgrades to Lynx Mk. 9. (UK MoD photo)A significant increase in helicopter capacity for troops in Afghanistan is part of a package of measures to rebalance the Defence equipment programme towards the support of current operations announced by Defence Secretary John Hutton today, Thursday 11 December 2008.>> In May 2008 the MOD began an examination of the equipment programme with the aim of adapting to the rising cost of high-end defence equipment and providing more support for current operations.>> In a statement to Parliament today, Mr Hutton stressed that support to current operations remained the MOD's highest priority and to that end announced a significant increase to helicopter capacity in Afghanistan which, he added, was one of the highest priorities for operational commanders.>> The number of helicopter airframes and hours available to commanders in Afghanistan had been increased by around 60 per cent over the past two years. But Mr Hutton announced today that - in addition to planned battlefield helicopter procurements - 70 million more will be spent from the Reserve to upgrade 12 Lynx Mark 9 helicopters with new engines, with the first aircraft available by the end of 2009.>> The MOD also plans to move our Merlin helicopters to Afghanistan once they have completed their mission in Iraq. This, along with additional planned Apache capability and the Chinook Mark 3 Reversion, will deliver a significant increase in helicopter capability available to military commanders.