I wonder what the daily rate is for the crew/plane/jet fuel...

COST-CUTTING Britain has been forced to go cap in hand to borrow a US spy plane to protect our ships in Libya.

Top Brass had to ask for help after last year's controversial decision to axe Nimrods left the UK with NO airborne maritime surveillance capability.

A US Navy P-3 Orion is now keeping watch over HMS Liverpool, mine hunter HMS Brocklesby and nuclear sub HMS Triumph. It has a US crew and is making regular sweeps off Mad Dog Gaddafi's coast. It will provide information on potential threats to the three vessels.

A source said: "It's all deeply embarrassing, but we can't have our guys with no protection so we have to rely on others."

The new Nimrods were scrapped in the Strategic Defence and Security Review. Ministers claimed the decision would save roughly £2billion but military figures blasted the move.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz1MX4KyGPr