Former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, shortly before leaving his post, tried to disrupt a contract for the supply of Chinook helicopters from the United States, the Times reports, citing unnamed sources.
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According to the Times, the contract included the purchase of 14 Chinook H-47 extended-range helicopters manufactured by the American company Boeing. The first of them was supposed to be delivered to the UK by 2026.
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“In recent weeks <…> in internal discussions, Wallace proposed canceling the purchase contract under the cost reduction program <…> of the British Department of Defense. In a letter dated August 10, sent to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Wallace <… > has made it clear that he is considering terminating the deal,” the newspaper said, citing unnamed British officials.
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As unnamed sources told the newspaper, Wallace tried to cancel the contract for helicopters not only because of their cost – he had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the United States did not support his candidacy for the post of NATO Secretary General.
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“It looks like he (Ben Wallace) was trying to piss off the Americans. That’s how some regarded it (cancellation of the contract),” the newspaper notes, citing unnamed officials.
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Earlier, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace sent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak a letter of resignation after four years in office. The head of the Ministry of Energy, Grant Shapps, was appointed to his position.
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The Chinook helicopter (CH-47) is primarily used to transport troops and equipment, but it also carries two 7.62mm M134 machine guns and one M60D machine gun of the same caliber.
