DEFENCE

THE RAF’s fleet of Tornado fighter jets are to be withdrawn from service next March. This comes much earlier than expected.

Tornado GR4s will be replaced by F-35Bs, supersonic stealth fighters, which will be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

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The Royal Navy is also introducing its new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, which will be equipped with the F-35B jets. The plans come amid concerns that the military needs more money in order to properly defend itself against future attacks.

A Ministry of Defence source confirmed that the RAF’s Tornados would be decommissioned by March 2019. It is believed plans to withdraw the fighter-bomber were halted after it was needed for operational missions in Syria. However, new and emerging budget pressures has meant this has changed, and the withdrawal of the Tornado fleet is being accelerated.

The Tornado was introduced to service in 1980 and has been used in conflict zones such as Libya, Kosovo and Afghanistan. It launched attacks in Iraq and Syria against Islamic State, but the aircraft has not been involved in active combat since last December.

Confirmation of the withdrawal date comes after Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier warned that the RAF needs more money to combat the threat posed by Russia.

The Chief of the Air Staff said: “As others seek rapidly to match or even surpass our technological edge, we must modernise our capabilities.”

Sir Stephen also added: “If you don’t give me resources, you’re going to have to make compromises. It will mean that we will not be able to do all of the things that we need to do in order to defend the nation.”