**The UK’s armed forces now have the vehicles and equipment needed to commit 500 more personnel to Afghanistan, the government is expected to confirm.**A ministerial committee is expected to be told by the chief of the defence staff that kit supplies are adequate.
This was one of three conditions Gordon Brown said must be met before he would send more troops. He will say if the others have been met later this week.
It comes a day before President Obama’s announcement on US troop commitments.
As well as the availability of equipment, Mr Brown said in October that Britain’s Nato allies must agree to send more troops to share the burden, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai must also commit to train more local forces to fight alongside Western soldiers.
Merlins ready
The National Security, International Relations and Development Committee, which is chaired by the prime minister, will meet on Monday morning in London.
Chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Jock Stirrup, is expected to report that equipment levels have been increased since troop numbers were boosted to 9,000 in August.
Ahead of the meeting, the government announced that recently arrived Merlin helicopters had been given the green light for operations a month ahead of schedule.
“What we need is a political push to match the military push we’re now agreeing to”
Gordon Brown
They have undergone a £42.5m upgrade programme since returning from operations in Iraq to prepare them for the different conditions in Afghanistan - in particular high altitudes and very wide ranges of temperatures.
The Ministry of Defence also said the number of heavily armoured Mastiff and Ridgback vehicles available to troops had increased significantly in recent months.
Earlier this year, Sir Jock said he was “busting a gut” to ensure more helicopters were sent to Afghanistan.
The head of the army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, also said he had given the government a “shopping list” of equipment.
The US, meanwhile, has been undertaking an exhaustive review of its strategy in Afghanistan after its top commander, Gen Stanley McChrystal, asked for at least 40,000 more personnel.
Reports citing anonymous officials have suggested that a figure somewhat below that mark is likely to be announced by President Obama on Tuesday.
Public commitment
On Saturday, Mr Brown told the BBC that Mr Karzai would be set targets by the international community for training 50,000 Afghan forces and tackling corruption.
He will be expected to commit to them at an international conference in London on 28 January, the PM added.
“What we need is a political push to match the military push we’re now agreeing to,” Mr Brown said.
A final announcement on whether all three of the government’s conditions have been met - and therefore whether the extra troops will be sent - is expected from the prime minister later this week.