The UK’s decision to extend the life of its Nimrod spy plane for three months will cost an extra £4m ($6.6m) in support of military operations in Libya, UK Defence Procurement Minister Peter Luff said.
“The government are spending millions keeping equipment in service in Libya which they had planned to scrap in their rushed defence review,” Bloomberg quotes the minister as saying.
“It’s time for ministers to reopen the review and assess whether the current equipment programme is sufficient for the new threats the UK faces.”
The reconnaissance aircraft, which was due to be grounded on 1 April 2011, will remain in use until the end of June this year.
The delayed retirement of two C-130K Hercules transport planes and the frigate HMS Cumberland, has cost the UK government £15,000 and £575,000 respectively.
