RED ARROWS FACE AXE IN CUTS BLITZ ‘Air display team cut, Paras and Marines merged’ in Forces shake-up plans
THE Red Arrows could be axed in one of the biggest Armed Forces shake-ups in years.
The elite RAF display team may be grounded after the election no matter which party is in power.
Other famed military units face being merged or scrapped as chiefs are told to “think the unthinkable”.
Senior officers have been warned that cutbacks and changes are necessary to make the Forces more capable of fighting 21st-century wars.
And they have been told bluntly to be prepared to “slay sacred cows”.
Plans being considered are said to include axing the 55-year-old Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, known as the Red Arrows and renowned for breathtaking displays of precision flying in Hawk trainer jets. Other proposals are said to include disbanding the RAF Regiment and merging the Paras and Royal Marines into an Army commando unit.
The Guards Division is in doubt too, with some chiefs asking why the Army needs five battalions of Foot Guards.
Questions have also been raised over whether tanks and other heavy
armoured vehicles have a place on the modern battlefield.
Every aspect of the Forces will come under intense scrutiny next year, whoever is in No10, because there will be a defence and security review.
The Sunday Mirror has been told that nothing has been decided – but the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that changes are inevitable. A senior source said that the overall size of the military will remain the same but the budget will be spent differently.
One source said: “The Armed Forces will be expected to justify every penny. The Red Arrows cost around £10million a year to run and are nice to look at. The question is, are they still relevant?”
Boris Johnson has insisted the Forces are safe in his hands following reports that the Army would be cut to 65,000.
The Red Arrows last came under threat in 2013. They were ear-marked for the chop by David Cameron, but saved after a wave of protests.
Air Commodore Andrew Lambert, of the UK National Defence Association, said it would be “foolish” to scrap them.
The MoD said: “Discussions around cuts or changes to programmes are pure speculation. We will always ensure the Armed Forces have the people and equipment to keep Britain safe.”