The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) may cut up to 9,000 jobs from its equipment procurement and logistic arm according to confidential cost-saving plans.

The UK’s Financial Times reports defence officials have been told to cut the civilian payroll by up to one third without threatening services to frontline troops.

Following the merger of the MoD’s procurement arm and logistics division to form Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) in April, some job cuts were expected.

Insiders say the division’s workforce, which stands at 28,000, could be cut to 19,000 by 2011.

Defence ministers are also close to approving details of a voluntary redundancy programme across the whole MoD.

By staff writer