We Just blew £183m On A Five Inch Gun, But It's 'Good Value For Taxpayers'
29 July 2016
The weapon – which is the length of a toothbrush – will be placed on combat ships that are still in the factory.
The move will spark fury considering the ongoing fury surrounding Britain's largest nuclear deterrent programme, Trident.
Weapons for warfare are a touchy subject, with Scotland asking for Trident's removal and the Labour party vehemently against weapons of mass destruction.
Even This Morning host Eamonn Holmes muscled in on the debate, quoting Martine McCutcheon when things got heated.
The armed forces were dealt fresh embarrassment after it was revealed that submarine recruitment had flopped because new hires could not bear to be without Facebook.
The new Maritime Indirect Fire System (MIFS) will sit on the Type 26 Global Combat ships.
It includes a gun system currently in use by the US and Spanish navies.
The growing defence budget under Tory government means that the Ministry for Defence can splash the cash on these types of weapons.
But Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin claimed it was at the best value for taxpayers.
She said: "Our growing defence budget means we can invest in a cutting edge weapon system for the Royal Navy’s next generation Global Combat Ship at the best value for taxpayers.
"Along with sustaining highly skilled jobs across the country, this new contract underlines our commitment and demonstrates continued momentum in the programme."
The contract includes design and manufacture for three guns for the first three ships which will be ready in 2020.
It comes just a week after MPs decided to renew Tridentat a cost of £31 billion.
Lifetime running fees will cost taxpayers £140billion.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: "The whole point of a deterrent is that our enemies need to know that we would be prepared to (use it)"
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned: "I do not believe the threat of mass murder is a legitimate way to go about international relations."
It is a stark contrast from a new technique employed by British troops fighting ISIS.
Special forces are waging psychological warfare by playing Bollywood music to the terrorist's radio channels.
Source : dailystar.co.uk
