RAF bomber delayed by concrete farce RAF chiefs are facing an embarrassing delay to the deployment of Tornado bombers to replace Harriers in Afghanistan because a new concrete parking area is not ready. By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 9:25PM GMT 22 Feb 2009
he four-month wait means that summer holidays for the over-worked Harrier pilots and aircrew are likely to be cancelled as they are called back for one further tour.
Delivery of eight Tornado GR4s to Kandahar airbase has also been delayed by a failure to clear new ground attacks bombs for use and over the fitting of missile defence aids.
Ministers are expected to meet next week before they make an announcement over the delayed deployment that has apparently been caused by a failure of concrete to set properly due to cold and inclement weather. There delay was caused by Whitehall indecision and a "bureaucratic nightmare" with other Nato allies who share the airfield on where to build the ramp.
Air force commanders face further humiliation as it has emerged that the £65 million Eurofighter Typhoon will not now see operational service in Afghanistan until at least 2011, two years later than originally planned.
A new ramp is needed for the Tornados from 12 Squadron RAF because they are almost twice the size of the Harriers they are replacing.
The Tornados are viewed by some aviation experts as a significant boost to the firepower available for troops who come into contact with the Taliban with a bigger payload of bombs, greater speed and duration.
They will carry the new highly accurate Brimstone long range missiles that will penetrate the strong mudbrick compounds used by the insurgents for defence.
But the Tornados are still waiting for clearance to use their Paveway IV bombs that will with greater accuracy and smaller payload will cause less damage to the civilian population.
The pilots, from 4 Squadron RAF of the Joint Harrier Force, are currently in Kandahar waiting to hear if their return home will be delayed.
But it is now becoming increasingly likely that an entire new squadron from Joint Force Harrier, probably a No 1 Squadron RAF with additional Navy pilots, will have to cancel their summer leave if they are called up.
"This is not going to be good for morale," a defence source said "Someone's long-postponed visit to Disneyland this summer is going to be ruined.
"This is also going to be particularly embarrassing for the Chief of the Air Staff."
While questions remain over the Tornado's manoeuvrability at low level, especially in Afghanistan's steep-sided valleys, the aircraft has been used extensively in Iraq backing up British and US troops on the streets of Baghdad, Fallujah and Basra.
While the Harrier has rocket pods the Tornado carries two 27mm Mauser cannon for strafing, two crew that allows for greater targeting ability and can carry more fuel giving them more time over targets. The Tornado has a top speed of 990mph compared to the Harrier's 660mph.
The Tornado is expected to fill the gap in Afghanistan until the new Typhoon is ready to take over possibly as late as 2011 as it attempts to convert to the ground attack role. Despite more than £20 billion spent on the Typhoon it has been held up coming into operational service in the role through a lack of trained pilots and the diversion of 72 aircraft sold to Saudi Arabia.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Certain infrastructure upgrades being constructed at Kandahar airfield, to support the Tornados, have suffered some unfortunate delays.
"Any changes to our plans will be announced to the House in the normal manner. The highly capable Tornados will replace the Harriers on operations in Afghanistan once the infrastructure and aircraft upgrades are complete."
Source
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/4779972/RAF-bomber-delayed-by-concrete-farce.html
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