Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has raised alarm over a lack of planes for the upcoming 80th-anniversary D-Day event, emphasising the need for greater defence funding. The RAF faces challenges due to ongoing missions, with only one transport plane initially available for the commemorative parachute drop in Normandy, France.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has highlighted a shortage of planes for the 80th-anniversary D-Day commemorations, citing it as evidence for increased defence funding. The event, set to take place in Normandy, France, on June 5, involves a parachute drop by personnel from the 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team and the Red Devils Parachute Display Team. Due to operational demands in Ukraine and the Middle East, the RAF’s transport fleet has been stretched thin, leaving only one plane initially available. Nonetheless, Shapps asserts that additional aircraft will be arranged, stressing the necessity of bolstering the armed forces with £75 billion in additional funding.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirms a comprehensive programme of tributes, including RAF flypasts and Royal Navy vessels, despite current operational constraints. Former defence ministers Tobias Ellwood and Kevan Jones have voiced concerns about the shortage, urging immediate resolution to honor those who served in World War II adequately.