Libyan mission could cost UK $415 millions

Mr. Fox said the projected cost for Britain’s involvement in a mission which started on March 19 - and could continue until later this year - is "in the region" of 120 million pounds.

Britain's Secretary of State for Defence Liam Fox. File photo: AP.

The NATO—led air campaign in Libya will have cost the U.K. at least 260 million pounds ($415 million) if it continues for another three months, Britain’s Defence Secretary Liam Fox said on Thursday.

Mr. Fox said the projected cost for Britain’s involvement in a mission which started on March 19 - and could continue until later this year - is “in the region” of 120 million pounds.

In a statement to lawmakers, Mr. Fox said there would also be an additional 140 million pound bill to replace missiles and other weapons used during the campaign.

Separately released figures show that British jets and helicopters have flown 200 sorties in which they fired weapons in the period March 19 to June 14.

In March, Treasury chief George Osborne said the campaign would likely cost “tens of millions, not hundreds of millions” of pounds (dollars).

Prime Minister David Cameron’s office acknowledged that the new figures were also an estimate, and likely to be revised if the mission continues beyond six months or comes to an abrupt end.

Mr. Fox explained that attempts by Britain and others to minimize civilian casualties in Libya had led to a steeper bill, and said officials must prepare for similar costs in the future.

“If we are going to fight operations in the future based on minimizing civilian casualties there is clearly a financial price to pay,” Mr. Fox said. “But I think that shows that we are on the moral high ground and that we place a higher value on human life than the Qadhafi regime does.”

Mr. Fox confirmed that the country’s Treasury will meet the costs of the Libya mission from reserves. Britain’s defence ministry already faces sharp spending cuts under the country’s austerity measures.

Britain discloses growing costs of Libyan mission

British defence officials say ministers plan to confirm NATO’s air—led campaign in Libya has cost the U.K. about 250 million pounds (US$400 million) so far.

Liam Fox was scheduled on Thursday to publish a written statement to lawmakers detailing the costs of the campaign.

The latest figures show between the start of the mission on March 19 and June 14, British jets and helicopters have flown 200 sorties during which they have fired weapons.

Ahead of his statement, Mr. Fox said Britain and others had used “expensive precision weaponry” in Libya in an attempt to minimize civilian casualties.

In March, Treasury chief George Osborne said the campaign would cost “tens of millions, not hundreds of millions” of pounds (dollars).