LONDON, July 15 (UPI) -- A shortage of helicopters is exposing British troops in Afghanistan to unnecessary risk, a British Parliament report concludes.
The report from the Commons defense select committee, to be released Thursday, criticizes Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government for not making enough choppers available to British commanders, The Guardian reported Wednesday.
The crux of the matter is the idea that a lack of airlift forces soldiers to hike overland during combat operations rather than flying them in.
The report will also suggest the government erred when it decided to upgrade its fleet of older Puma and Sea King helicopters rather than purchasing the new Merlin chopper.
The newspaper said the report comes out at a time when the supply situation in Afghanistan has come under question. Critics say U.K. troops don't have the modern equipment they need to fight effectively as the intensity of combat increases.
