LONDON, July 26 (UPI) -- British military programs were under scrutiny over the weekend as service chiefs and defense officials met to make cuts in defense spending.
The Daily Telegraph said the British air force would be under intense pressure to sacrifice some of its fast jets.
"The most painful option for the (air force) would be to give up the planned Joint Strike Fighter. The Ministry of Defense is due to spend more than $15.4 billion buying 138 JSFs from the U.S., most of them for the (air force)." the report said.
The country's army chief, Gen. David Richards, who becomes the Chief of Defense Staff in October, has publicly criticized the F-35 project.
The existing Harrier and Tornado fleets could also be vulnerable as the government moves to cut defense costs.
The British navy, the report said, will face arguments to give up its amphibious task force of landing ships and commandoes to offset costs for its new $7.7 billion aircraft carriers.
The British army's Challenger 2 tanks are also vulnerable, the report said.
