Defence chiefs fight plans for wind turbine near naval base 'because it might jam radar systems and allow enemy jets to attack'

Defence chiefs are fighting plans for a giant wind turbine over fears it might allow enemy jets to evade radar and attack our biggest naval base.

Ministry of Defence officials say the proposed (284ft) 86.5m tower will confuse computer systems designed to protect the UK.

They say it is so big it could appear as a threat on radar screens and force them to scramble fighter jets on false alerts - allowing enemies to sneak in amid the confusion.

REG Windpower have applied to build the massive turbine at Luson Farm nr Ermington, Devon - eight miles from Devonport, the largest naval base in western Europe.

But MoD chiefs have objected to South Hams District Council and said it would cause 'unacceptable interference' to the key radar installation at HMS Cambridge.

The shore-based radar station is one of the vital shields for Devonport and tracks all aircraft movements in the skies around it.

Military top brass say air traffic controllers rely upon accurate radar readings to distinguish between military and civilian aircraft.

In a letter to the council's planning board, they said: 'Wind turbines have been shown to have detrimental affects on the performance of MoD air traffic control and range control radars.

'These include the desensitisation of radar in the vicinity of turbines and the creation of ‘false' aircraft returns which air traffic controllers must treat as real.'

The MoD stance has already won the backing of the local parish council who agreed last week the turbine would be too large.

However, the authority will not make a final decision until later this year.

Sue Martin of South Hams Opposes Unwanted Wind Turbines, said: 'We are not against renewables, but it is in the wrong location.

'There has to be a balance between development of wind turbines and their settings.'

REG Windpower, which operates 12 wind farms across the UK, is yet to comment on the controversy.

The MoD has previously opposed the building of wind turbines in other sensitive locations, including plans to build two 115ft (35-metre) towers in St Ewe, Cornwall.

They wrote to Cornwall Council in April saying the 115ft (35-metre) towers were too close to a military radar installation 30 miles away in Wembury, Devon.

The RAF has also lodged an objection to plans to erect a wind farm near an airbase in Morayshire, Scotland, claiming it could confuse radars and risk the lives of pilots coming in to land.