The UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, has confirmed that more planes will be found for the mass parachute drop planned for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, despite issues arising over the availability of planes. One plane has been made available, however, four are required for the event. The Atlas A400 planes – those intended for use in the commemoration – are currently involved in military action in the Middle East and Ukraine. Nonetheless, Shapps affirmed on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that he wishes for the event to be properly covered.
Lack of available planes is one of the reasons Shapps argues that more investment is needed in the armed services. The commemorations are held to mark the Allied campaign to free north-west Europe from the Nazis during World War Two and will take place on the 5th and 6th of June in Portsmouth and Normandy in France. Over 1,600 members of the British Armed Forces will be involved.
The Parachute Regiment hoped for the use of four Atlas A400s, allowing roughly 450 paratroopers to participate. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson has confirmed that “a commemorative jump by UK paratroopers from an A400M aircraft on the 5 June alongside Allied counterparts” will take place. They further noted that this year’s ceremony will have a “comprehensive programme of tributes from today’s Armed Forces to their forebears” with activity in “both France and the UK, involving thousands of personnel, Royal Air Force flypasts, and Royal Navy vessels”.
The UK government is investing £44bn ($57bn) into the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army over the next four years, according to Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid. This marks an increase of £2.2bn ($2.9bn) from the previous year’s budget. The Defence Secretary suggests that more funding should be granted to avoid such difficulties in the future
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