RAF chief calls for increased budget

April 3, 2011 was last updated on 22 : 43 ET Sir Stephen Dalton expected operations on Libya until recent months rather than weeks the RAF should "increases in real" in its budget over the next few years if it is to run the range of operations ministers question, the chief said.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton told the Guardian the RAF was stretched to the limit, with operations on Libya planned for at least six months.

The army and the Royal Navy will later set out details of the first wave of job cuts in October the defence analysis.

Ministers have denied that the revision was just a "cost-cutting exercise".

' Core competencies '

ACM Dalton said his assumption was that of the RAF fighter and surveillance aircraft on Libya for several months, instead of weeks might be needed.

"In general conditions [we] are now planning on the basis of at least six months, and we will see where we go from there," he said.

He gave a warning that the RAF an increase in expenditure of the forthcoming comprehensive spending review in 2014 should.

Without "real increases," he said the RAF will find it "very difficult" to change the current levels of ability-with operations in Afghanistan, the Falklands and Libya to maintain.

"The most important factor is that if we are to meet the requirements of the US, there is no question that more investments will be needed to achieve that.

"What I want to do is maintain core competencies and bricks on which we can build for the future."

BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says the financial difficulties of all three armed services will be underlined when the army and the Royal Navy from their redundantie's set later.

Soldiers and sailors in the target groups for job losses will be seen by their commanding officers on Tuesday.

"National security"

It is expected that barely 600 staff in the army and 1600 from the Royal Navy will be fired in September. The RAF spelled out its plans for layoffs 2700 last month.

In total the RAF and Navy loses every 5,000-7,000 jobs, the army and the Ministry of defence 25,000 civilian personnel.

Unveiling the strategic defence and security policy in October, said Prime Minister David Cameron that it is a "step change in the way that we in this country security interests".

He said that the United Kingdom would still target of NATO of 2% of GDP on defence spending and the fourth largest army in the world and "punch above its weight in the world" would continue.

But he said that the country had to be "more thoughtful, more strategic and more coordinated in the way we our interests and to protect our national security".

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