DURING his recent visit to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, Mr Cameron announced that No 2 Squadron, Royal Air Force, which is carrying out raids and reconnaissance over Iraq under Operation Shader, will no longer be disbanded in March 2015.

Instead, squadron life will be extended by a year.

No 2 squadron comprises of 16 Panavia Tornados, due to be replaced in time by a new squadron of BAe Typhoon fighters, based at RAF Lossiemouth, in Scotland. That move, however, has most likely been postponed until current operations against ISIL are concluded.

The (Panavia) Tornado is a proven delivery system and these aircraft are proven to be better suited to ground- attack missions, while the newer Typhoons are designed more for aerial combat and reconnaissance.

True, Typhoon can be employed in the ground attack role but it still lacks the “punch” the more heavily- armed Tornado provides – hence the urgency which the Americans clearly wanted to see them active in the current conflict.

That aside, the Prime Minister’s declaration following the last Defence Review that the RAF would rely on only two-strike aircraft “types” in the future, the Typhoon and the eagerly awaited Lightning II, is in dire need of revision.

The new Joint Strike Fighter (Lightning II) Project continues to suffer delays and price increases – but alas, is the only viable aircraft suited for both RAF and RN (Combined carrier-borne) operations in the next decade and beyond.

Nonetheless, with no orders yet placed for the Lightning II and delivery of US airframes suffering already from excessive delays and modifications, if the Ministry of Defence continues with the planned run-down of Tornado squadrons (despite the aforementioned reprieve of No 2 squadron) we will face a situation where only one strike aircraft type will be available – pending the now, widely-anticipated reduced numbers and very late delivery of the JSF (F35B) Lightning II.

I can only suggest strongly that we, the UK, take the same logical steps as the other Tornado operators (Germany, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia) in agreeing a life-extension upgrade to allow these aircraft to continue well into 2020 and beyond.

In the circumstances, we must urge our political representatives to make clear our concerns are reflected in a forthcoming 2015 Defence Review.

Ian Dewar, Middleton on the Wolds