Britian to send two more fighter jets to Afghanistan

LONDON - Britain is to send two more Tornado fighter jets to Afghanistan to enhance protection for troops on the ground, defence secretary Liam Fox announced Wednesday.

Fox, who made a previously unannounced visit to British troops in Afghanistan’s Helmand province Wednesday, said the additional aircraft would be deployed at the request of US General David Petraeus, commander of the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

Eight Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornados are already based at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan. The additional jets will provide another 130 flying hours a month, the Ministry of Defence said.

“Tornado GR4s provide essential air cover to our service personnel on the ground and leading the fight against deadly IEDs (improvised explosive devices) from the air,” Fox said in a statement.

“The intelligence these assets provide to coalition forces will enable commanders to have the eyes in the sky that they need to protect their troops and help increase security for local people.”