A sharp drop in military search and rescue operations has raised fresh concerns about the capability gap caused by the scrapping of Moray’s Nimrod aircraft.
New figures show in 2008 alone there were 28 so-called “top cover” missions by the patrol aircraft – but since the end of 2012 there have not been any.
Moray SNP Angus Robertson claimed the data was “shocking” and proved that the lack of a replacement for Nimrod was “undoubtedly putting lives at risk”.
The Nimrod MRA4 contract was axed in 2010 – a decision which cost taxpayers £3.4billion and led to the closure of RAF Kinloss.
The UK Government is coming under pressure to buy a replacement.
In response to a series of parliamentary questions from Mr Robertson, UK ministers have revealed that in 2007 the Coastguard agency requested the fixed wing planes for search and rescue operations on 21 occasions, 28 times in 2008, 13 in 2009, three in 2010 and none in 2011.
Mr Robertson said last night: “This answer is nothing less than shocking.
“It is obvious there are not fewer emergencies requiring top level search and rescue cover. What is absolutely clear is that with the demise of the Nimrod, the RAF has no suitable replacement aircraft.
“Nimrod was flying on average over 20 of these missions every year. Now we find out the Ministry of Defence is doing one per annum. This is undoubtedly putting lives at risk.”
The SNP has said it would prioritise the purchase of maritime patrol aircraft for an independent Scottish military.
However, a source accused the Nationalist leader at Westminster of “scare-mongering” to distract attention from his party’s “flawed defence and security plans”.
An MoD spokesman said: “On coming into office, this government had to take tough decisions to balance the MoD budget, including cancelling the Nimrod programme which had run out of control – it was hundreds of millions over budget, years behind schedule and had delivered just one aircraft.”