DEFENCE Secretary George Robertson has specifically excluded the Eurofighter from a new government drive to cut cost over-runs on equipment purchases.

Yesterday he made clear to defence contractors including British Aerospace that the gravy train was over.

Launching a new "smart procurement" drive he said that in future the government would not accept huge overspends on weapons purchases.

He singled out BAe's massive expensive Tornado GR1 upgrade which came in 63 months late and £365 million over budget as an example of the sort of waste he wanted to cut. He said: "The British people want a strong defence for this country, but they don't want it at any price. We must justify every pound spent in the defence budget.

Mr Robertson stressed he was determined to eliminate the kind of cost over-runs and delays that have characterised some equipment projects in the past.

But he told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph that he was satisfied that the Eurofighter - vital to BAe's Lancashire military aircraft division and dozens of suppliers in the county - did not fall into that category.

He said he had carefully checked on taking office that the massive scheme was not a giant job creation project.

He said it was vital to the future RAF role in defending Britain. And he was "immensely proud" he had persuaded the German cabinet to back it.

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