By Bethany Rielly

THE government’s decision to splurge £550 million on supersonic missiles during the pandemic is an “insult” to Covid-19 patients, NHS staff and key workers, campaigners have said.

Under a multimillion-pound contract announced by the Ministry of Defence today, arms manufacturer MBDA will produce “new-generation” missiles for Britain’s fleet of fighter jets.

Once in operation, the weapons will have a range of more than 80 miles and travel at supersonic speeds, with the MoD boasting of their “unrivalled lethality.”

Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said that the decision “emphasises how wrong and how totally inappropriate Downing Street’s priorities are” during the coronavirus crisis.

“The government says that there is not enough money to help people, but it is choosing to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on new and even more destructive weapons.

“This money should be used to help to recover and rebuild from the pandemic, not to commit to an even more aggressive military policy that has already done so much damage.”

Peace Pledge Union campaigns manager Symon Hill said: “This announcement is an insult to Covid patients, NHS staff and other key workers who are heroically struggling to deal with the pandemic in the face of underfunding and government incompetence.

“The only thing that these missiles will protect is the profits of arms dealers.”

Junior Defence Minister Jeremy Quin claimed that the seven-year contract would support more than 700 jobs in Britain.

However, Mr Hill warned: “Let’s not fall for the promises of Tory ministers who suddenly claim to care about working-class people’s jobs when they want to justify the arms industry.

“Real investment in socially useful industries, including renewable energy, would create more jobs that are more sustainable.”