In 2004 the Royal Air Force lost 7, 900 jobs, some training planes, an air base and a squadron of Tornados.

ECONOMIST: The armed forces

Airlines, facing bankruptcy and a sluggish economy, have been slow to implement the upgrades needed, both to the planes and ground equipment and training.

BBC: The futurist: The US�� new air traffic control system

Nigerian war planes and helicopter gunships also attacked several militant training camps in the north-east on Friday, officials said.

BBC: Nigeria army's offensive to continue 'as long as it takes'