Tri-Service

£1.1 Billion British Army Investment Announced

Over £1.1 billion will be invested in new British Army accommodation and facilities, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has announced.

Sir Michael made the announcement during a Defence Select Committee hearing on the delivery of last year's Strategic Defence and Security Review. He said:

"Our Armed Forces deserve facilities and housing that match the need of this generation."

"We’re committed to delivering a better defence estate; ensuring our Armed Forces are properly supported and provided for. With our defence budget secure and rising to 2020 will [sic] can now properly invest in our soldiers, their families and communities.

The Ministry of Defence says there will be significant investment into Salisbury Plain Training Area and into new 'Single Living Accommodation' (SLA) in Aldershot, with more than 2,600 bed spaces created as well as new technical, office, catering, retail and leisure facilities.

The new infrastructure will support forces returning from Germany under the Army Basing Programme, which is scheduled for completion by 2020.

It's hoped this will mean all British Army units based in Germany can return to the UK by then, resulting in savings of up to £240 million per year by 2022/23.

Major General Alastair Dickinson, the Army’s Director of Basing and Infrastructure and MOD lead for the programme said:

"This is a significant step forward in the delivery of the Army Basing Programme. The investment is a major part of our programme to deliver first class facilities and will ensure a high-level of support and service for all those units relocating in 2019."

It comes on the same day the Defence Secretary confirmed that the Red Arrows aerobatic team will get new planes.

Sir Michael said it was too early to say which aircraft would replace the Hawk jets the team currently flies, but added that they need to be replaced and a decision will be made over the next couple of years. He's quoted as saying by the BBC:

"The Red Arrows are going to be here to stay for a while yet. They are a key part of our defence engagement, as we call it, around the rest of the world, and I don't think the public would let us lose the Red Arrows."

The Red Arrows are currently taking part in a 60-day world tour aiming to promote "the best of British", which includes its first ever display in China.

There has been media speculation in recent years that the team based at RAF Scampton could be axed as part of defence cuts.

The Express newspaper reported that the Queen was said to be worried about the Red Arrows' future in 2014, while politicians including Labour's Vernon Coaker have previously said there can be no guarantees.