Almost 2/3 of the RAF’s Merlin helicopters, which the Government has hailed as a key part of increasing capacity and ‘ideally suited’ to Afghanistan, are incapable of carrying out their planned missions, according to figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats.

Answers to Parliamentary Questions have shown that of the 19 RAF Merlins in the ‘Forward Fleet’ (those aircraft which frontline commands are meant to be able to use), just seven – or 37% – are classed as ‘available’ (defined as ‘considered capable of carrying out their planned missions on a given date’).

The answers also showed that only half (23 out of 46) of the Army’s Apache attack helicopters which were meant to be available to frontline commands actually were available.

Commenting, Willie Rennie: Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson, Willie Rennie said:

“These alarming figures undermine the Government’s claim to have hugely increased helicopter capacity in Afghanistan.

“Bob Ainsworth has praised the capability and importance of the Merlin helicopters sent to Afghanistan. But now we find that two thirds of those helicopters which are supposed to be available to front line commanders simply are not.

“Labour has short-changed our troops for too long. They should focus on properly supporting our brave men and women on the front line instead of spinning on the number of helicopters available. We need a fair deal for our troops.”

Notes:

1. The figures can be found in full here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100121/text...

2. Gordon Brown on the Merlin:
“Yesterday, I flew on one of the newly deployed Merlin helicopters. Over the past three years, we have doubled helicopter numbers, and more than doubled helicopter flying hours.”

House of Commons, 14 December 2009: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm091214/debt...

3. Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth on the Merlin:
“The Merlin helicopters deployed this month have added to our helicopter capability.”

Independent, 30 November 2009: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bob-ainsworth-you-ask-the-...

“It’s a well armoured aircraft. It’s served in Iraq very successfully for the last few years and we are spending money on its protection as well as its lift capability before we send it out to Afghanistan. I am confident that this helicopter is perfectly capable of the job that we’re giving it to do in Afghanistan.

“The Merlin has a long range so, with the great distances that there are in Afghanistan, in Helmand, it will be ideally suited by the time we’ve done our modifications for that theatre. When people see the Merlin arrive they’ll know that there is additional support there.”

MOD press release, 12 August 2009: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/Merlins...