Letter: WMDs outdated

It is disappointing that the SNP, instead of looking forward to the 21st century, is harking back along with Labour to the imperialistic 19th/20th century by campaigning for the continuation of building weapons of mass destruction on the Clyde and Forth (your report, 9 September).

Carriers are weapons of offence, not defence. They are also outdated technology. The advance of super quiet nuclear submarines capable of underwater speeds in excess of the carrier's speed means that they can easily be neutralised.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) can be launched from much smaller ships and along with cruise missiles are far more effective for aerial strikes. Convoy defence is now tackled by missile launchers and Gatling guns, which can take out enemy aircraft and missiles at far closer range without the need for combat aerial patrols.

The jobs of those involved (and those at the other military bases in Scotland) are paramount, but continuing to build weapons of outdated technology is a cul-de-sac.

The SNP should be looking for new ways of using these engineering skills and building a secure continuous future for the yards and other military connected industries rather than a single contract of a few years.

It would better if, instead of their armchair admirals strutting around Westminster with a look of indignation at the lack of defence spending in Scotland, the party accepted that the defence industry has changed and looked for new industries.

It is interesting that since the collapse of the Iron Curtain defence industries in the United States have been lobbying hard for increases in defence spending. While this carrier project might support the British yards, the vast bulk of the contract cost is going to be in US-built JSF35 aircraft, so the real benefit from this project is to the US.

Bruce D Skivington

Pairc a Ghlib

Gairloch, Wester Ross