MONDAY saw the release of the new Defence Review which seems to have been trailed for some time by the PM, Chancellor and, finally, the Defence Secretary.

However, when they are pressed all they can provide are sound bites hoping to catch the headlines.

Take the 10,000 men in two rapid reaction brigades, we have been trying to form these elements for over a decade and this concept was originally called the Joint Rapid Reaction Force but that failed to come from concept to fulfilment so they are having another go at regurgitating the idea.

To suggest that it is a new idea in response to the terrorist events of late is total political rubbish.

The Chancellor then trailed the purchase of more F35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, which is in line with what was already in the pipeline.

It must be said that this airframe has very little extra utility to our current equipment inventory but cost far more to operate and is plagued by development issues and underestimate on operating costs. So again a purchase that is ill advised but it keeps the American manufacturers happy.

It must be said that the US military are not happy with the airframe and wish to drop the aircraft.

We have built two aircraft carriers that will not be ready for five years and cannot be crewed due to manpower shortages, so why buy the F35 aircraft to fly off them? One of the carriers will also be upgraded to take Apache helicopters.

Unfortunately the politicians call the shots but they have totally no concept of the needs of our defence.

Chris Gallacher, Redcar