Defence Minister John Hutton made an announcement regarding the British forces' ongoing equipment programme on December 11, 2008. The statement was prompted by the need to make cuts to balance the books to pay for ongoing overseas campaigns and to alleviate the funding shortfalls created by the large number of 'big ticket' items currently under development or being procured. The aviation programme most affected is Future Lynx, which has seen its numbers cut from 70 helicopters to 62, comprising 34 for the Army Air Corps and 28 for the Fleet Air Arm, six and two fewer respectively than originally planned.
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