The military has lodged an objection with East Lindsey District Council over plans for eight 125m turbines in Bardney Road.


The MOD said the proposal could affect aircraft flying into or out of RAF Coningsby, RAF Cranwell, and RAF Waddington.


"The presence of the turbines could degrade radar coverage, making it difficult or impossible to detect smaller aircraft in the same area thereby compromising the provision of a safe Air Traffic Control service," a spokesman for the ministry's defence estates said.


He continued that wind turbines appear as slow moving aircraft to Air Traffic Control, and that these so-called 'false aircraft returns' must be avoided by five nautical miles.


"If such sites must be avoided the impact will be increased flying distances leading to greater fuel requirements, or, potentially, a reduction in sortie length which would have a direct impact on the training of RAF aircrews," the spokesman said.


Baumber Wind Farm Action Group, the grassroots protest movement, welcomed the objection of the MOD.


Chairman Melvin Grosvenor said: "It's once one of the many, many issues that add up to a body of evidence to say it's the wrong place."


David Linley, manager of projects for the firm behind the application, Enertrag UK, disputed claims the development would pose a safety issue, arguing them be merely an 'inconvenience' to air traffic controllers instead.


"We do not look at it as a major issue," he said.


He said the benefits of the renewable energy source would outweigh the extra fueled used in avoiding the turbines and also defended the choice of site, which he credited for its elevation, openness, windiness, and relatively low number of properties.


"There are many constraints on a particular development," he said. "The biggest constraint is finding 400 acres without any property on it."


The consultation period on the application ends on September 8.