LONDON – Britain‘s Ministry of Defence says it will buy 22 new Chinook helicopters to help troops in Afghanistan.

The announcement comes before Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth is set to outline cuts in other parts of the military‘s budget to make concessions for Afghan operations. The purchase will increase the size of Britain’s fleet of the heavy-lift helicopters from 48 to 70. Ainsworth says the first 10 aircraft will arrive by 2013.

Britain’s military has been dogged by critics complaining that the nation’s troops have been deployed without adequate equipment.

That criticism has been particularly sharp in terms of helicopters, which give troops mobility and allow them to avoid the risk of roadside bombs.

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