The cost of fuelling Britain's Armed Forces is due to rise by more than £500 million next year as a result of soaring oil prices, forcing military chiefs to consider broad cuts to air force and combat training. Ministry of Defence calculations of projected fuel bills, seen byThe Times, show a dramatic increase in operating costs, with fuel for aircraft, naval and ground vehicles up by more than 20 per cent on last year. With the Armed Forces' budget set to rise by just 3 per cent - and the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, warning government departments last week of no additional increases - defence and industry analysts said that major cuts to training programmes such as fighter plane exercises would be inevitable. The Times understands that Air Chief Marshal Sir Glen Torpy, Chief of the Air Staff, told senior members of the defence industry last week that RAF pilots would do more training in simulators this year because of the budget squeeze.
The cost of fuelling Britain's Armed Forces is due to rise by more than £500 million next year as a result of soaring oil prices, forcing military chiefs to consider broad cuts to air force and combat training.
Ministry of Defence calculations of projected fuel bills, seen byThe Times, show a dramatic increase in operating costs, with fuel for aircraft, naval and ground vehicles up by more than 20 per cent on last year.
With the Armed Forces' budget set to rise by just 3 per cent - and the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, warning government departments last week of no additional increases - defence and industry analysts said that major cuts to training programmes such as fighter plane exercises would be inevitable.
The Times understands that Air Chief Marshal Sir Glen Torpy, Chief of the Air Staff, told senior members of the defence industry last week that RAF pilots would do more training in simulators this year because of the budget squeeze.
