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Swiss army faces big cuts: report
Geneva (AFP) Aug 16, 2009 Switzerland plans to cut its permanent army by a third in around a decade, Defence Minister Ueli Maurer said in an interview published Sunday. "Today, we have 120,000 full-time soldiers and 80,000 reservists. In 10 to 12 years, the army will consist of 80,000 full-time and 40,000 reserve soldiers," Maurer told weekly newspaper SonntagsZeitung. Cuts will also be made to heavy weapons, artillery and tanks in a bid to modernise the force, he said. "Times have changed," Maurer said, adding that a war in Europe involving armoured vehicles was unlikely. "Our army must become the most modern possible and be well-equipped and -trained," he said. The defence minister, a member of the right-wing Swiss People's Party, added the reductions would begin in five or six years. Switzerland has not been directly involved in an armed conflict since the 19th century. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Britain rethinks jump jet orderLondon (UPI) Aug 12, 2009 Britain may drop the short-takeoff and vertical-landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter in favor of the conventional model to be used on its two planned aircraft carriers. The decision would waste taxpayer's money and could result in job losses, British newspaper Daily Telegraph writes. The decision to drop the jump jet model could be announced this fall, the newspaper writes, citin ... read more |
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