TWO Oxfordshire air bases are expected to escape defence cutbacks after the Prime Minister this week pledged to increase spending on military equipment by £12bn.

David Cameron set out his plans in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to spend a total of £178bn on new equipment and maintenance over the next decade.

By next year, there will be 14 Voyager air-to-air refuelling planes at RAF Brize Norton, and by 2019 the base will also have 22 A400M Atlas planes.

At RAF Benson, near Wallingford, Chinook helicopters have relocated to the base, joining the Puma Operational Conversion Flight to form the combined Puma and Chinook Operational Conversion Unit.

The first four of six Chinook helicopters and about 150 personnel arrived at the base last month.

Henley MP John Howell said: “The first duty of any government is to keep the nation and our communities safe. That is why this investment is fantastic news for the people of this area.”

The defence review also sets out plans for two new 5,000-strong Army ‘strike brigades’ capable of deploying rapidly around the world.

They will form part of a joint maritime, land and air expeditionary force totalling 50,000 by 2025, compared to the current commitment of 30,000.

In other measures, the Ministry of Defence will acquire nine Boeing P8 maritime patrol aircraft to plug the gap left by the decision in the last review in 2010 to scrap a new generation of Nimrod aircraft.

Mr Cameron said the Government had taken “a clear decision to invest in our security and safeguard our prosperity”.

The Witney MP added: “Our Armed Forces, police and security and intelligence services are the pride of our country. They are the finest in the world, and this Government will ensure they stay that way.”