because they have to travel by road . See a map of Helmand province '' `` It 's a sad fact that helicopters would not have saved the lives of the individuals last week , '' he said , citing Lt. Col. Nick Richardson , a British military spokesman in Afghanistan . `` British armed forces are better equipped today than at any time ... in the past 40 years . In the last two years we have increased helicopter numbers by 60 percent and ... capacity by 84 percent . '' But opposition leader David Cameron argued that helicopter capacity in Afghanistan has not risen as fast as troop levels . `` Is n't the real point this , that the number of troops has doubled since 2006 , so proportionally there has n't really been in increase in helicopter capacity at all ? '' the leader of the Conservative Party demanded . The former chief of the defense staff , Charles Guthrie , `` has said more helicopters would save lives , '' Cameron said . The United Kingdom has been shocked by the deaths of 15 troops in 10 days , including eight in a 24-hour period
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has defended the UK 's involvement in the war in Afghanistan following the British Army 's bloodiest day of the near eight-year conflict . Soldiers from the Welsh Guards carry the coffin of Maj Sean Birchall , killed on patrol in Afghanistan in June . Addressing lawmakers on Monday , Brown said the security of Afghanistan was crucial to preventing terrorist attacks elsewhere in the world . `` In 2009 the case for our continued involvement is the same : to prevent terrorist attacks in Britain and across the world by dealing with the terrorist threat at its source -- that crucible of terror on the border and mountain areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan , '' Brown told the House of Commons . `` I am confident that we are right to be in Afghanistan , that we have the strongest plan and the resources to do the job . '' Brown also rejected suggestions that British troops , who are fighting alongside other coalition and Afghan forces in Helmand province , are dying unnecessarily because they do not have enough helicopters -- leaving them vunerable to ambush