Defence News

Defence News: 31 October 2011

Hammond – we owe troops honesty and certainty
End of Libya operations announced by NATO
Royal Navy displays its wide-ranging abilities
Benefits of virtual testing felt on front line

Defence in the Media: 31 October 2011

Summary
There has been widespread media coverage this weekend of the announcement made by NATO on Friday that it will end its air campaign over Libya today, Monday 31 October 2011. | Various media also report that a suicide bomber has killed 17 people, including two British civilian contractors and five NATO service members, when he drove a car packed with explosives onto the side of a military bus in Kabul. | On Saturday, The Times reported that the Imperial War Museum is hosting an exhibition to mark the 10 year anniversary of military action in Afghanistan. | The Sun carried an in-depth the interview from Gioia Del Colle with Defence Secretary Philip Hammond,who said that he has immense pride in the Armed Forces. | On Sunday, various media outlets including the BBC, reported that Prime Minister David Cameron has announced ships which are registered in the UK will be allowed to carry armed private security guards to counter pirate attacks. | The Mail on Sunday published a feature on the work of The Royal British Legion as this year’s Poppy Appeal is launched. | The Star on Sunday reported that a teenage soldier cheated death when he was shot three times in the back, setting his pack of ammunition and grenades on fire. | Various news sources reported that the fighters who buried Muammar Gaddafi have sworn to keep the site a secret while Gaddafi supporters say it is like losing a father with some threatening revenge. | The Observer reported that  Libyan officials are determined to resist calls for Saif al-Islam to be brought before the international criminal courts claiming he should face justice at home. | The Sunday Mirror claimed a new report shows that eight in 10 of Britain's nuclear test veterans went on to develop multiple medical conditions. | Today the Daily Telegraph reports that the 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment has launched a dawn attack on Nad 'Ali, to flush out the final pockets of Taliban resistance. | The Sun reports that a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter that has seen service for 30 years, has been patched up by the Fleet Air Arm and will rejoin the fleet. | Various media sources report how war memorials have been desecrated across the country as plaques listing those who died in the First and Second World Wars have been stolen.

Conclusion of NATO operations in Libya
NATO operations in Libya will conclude today, Monday 31 October 2011. The announcement, made on Friday,  brings to an end one of the most successful military campaigns that NATO and UK forces have conducted, and marks the point at which withdrawal of individual nations' forces can commence.

NATO's announcement came on Friday, while Defence Secretary Philip Hammond was in Italy, enabling him to give the go-ahead to an initial drawdown of UK assets, which will also see dozens of supporting staff return home. Mr Hammond said: "Our Armed Forces can be immensely proud that their hard work has assured the liberty of the Libyan people. This is a job well done and we will be sending our crews home from tonight. I have given my personal thanks today to some of the aircrew and support personnel at Gioia del Colle."

Officer Commanding 906 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW), Group Captain Peter Squires, said: "With the formal announcement of the end of Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, we can reflect on the considerable and significant contribution that 906 Expeditionary Air Wing has made towards the mission to protect the lives of Libyan civilians.

"From the very first day of the Operation, the UK has been at the forefront of the campaign providing unrelenting over-watch of the ground situation, co-ordinating and refuelling all the aircraft and, when needed, employing precision weapons to defend the Libyan people. The high tempo could not have been sustained without our international partners, particularly our Italian hosts, and we owe them a very big thanks for their unstinting support.

"The skill and professionalism of all EAW personnel, who have worked tirelessly to ensure the aircraft are able to perform their variety of missions, has been immense. Their innovation and perseverance has been at the very core of everything we have achieved and I am extremely proud to have commanded them during this highly successful operation."

Praise has also been bestowed on the Eurofighter Typhoon for the aircraft's performance during the conflict in Libya. An article in the Daily Telegraph describes the aircraft's Libyan experience as 'flawless'.

The Government's Somalia strategy
On Saturday the Daily Mail reported that Royal Marines Commandos were involved in an operation to 'snatch' a Somali tribal leader. A small military team visited Somaliland in July at the invitation of the Somaliland Government to provide advice on how to develop the capacity of Somaliland to handle its own security, thereby reducing the ability for terrorists and pirates to operate freely.

The Royal Marines Commandos provided a safe passage for an influential individual to attend a meeting aboard RFA Cardigan Bay with President Silanyo, a number of Ministers for the Government of Somaliland and officials from the Somaliland Navy and military to discuss defence issues.

This support comes under the Government's Somalia strategy, which provides for a range of support across the territory of Somalia but also includes security sector support not just in Somaliland but also through AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) and the EU Training Mission to provide stability in Mogadishu.

Image of the Day: 31 October 2011

During a visit on Friday to Italy's Gioia del Colle airfield, where many of the UK air assets have been based throughout the Libya campaign, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond approved the immediate return of six Tornado GR4 fast jets, following NATO's announcement that the mission will conclude today, Monday 31 October 2011. Mr Hammond visited the base to acquaint himself with current operations and to congratulate personnel from 906 Expeditionary Air Wing on a successful operation. Click here to read more [Picture: Senior Aircraftwoman Tracey Dobson, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Defence Diary: 31 October 2011

Today, Monday 31 October
3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines parliamentary reception.
Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging memorial service, Lincoln Cathedral.

Tomorrow, Tuesday 1 November
Frontline club discussion - The Arab Spring: Have the torturers been stopped?

London School of Economics lecture - Andrew Feinstein on 'Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade'.

London conference on cyberspace, until 2 November.

TV programme of interest: 'The Most Courageous Raid of WWII', BBC2, 2100hrs. Lord Ashdown tells the story of the 'Cockleshell Heroes', who raided Nazi-occupied Bordeaux in 1942.

Wednesday 2 November
Royal British Legion Poppy Day launch reception on HMS Mersey, Canary Wharf, London.

Thursday 3 November
Inquest in Sutton Coldfield into the death of Captain Andrew Griffiths, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2 LANCS), who died on Sunday 5 September 2010 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Wellington Academy Combined Cadet Force official opening ceremony.

Royal British Legion London Poppy Day launch.

London School of Economics lecture: Sarah Lyall, Justin Webb - Them and Us: A special relationship?

Chatham House lecture: 20 years on - Perspectives on the fall of the Soviet Union.

Friday 4 November
1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES) homecoming media day.

Saturday 5 November
120 soldiers from 57 Battery, 32 Regiment Royal Artillery homecoming, Larkhill.
4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment freedom parade, Bradford.

Sunday 6 November
TV programme of interest: 'Countryfile', BBC1, 1825hrs. Features personnel from 4th Battalion The Rifles.

Monday 7 November
HMS Liverpool homecoming.
British Torch of Remembrance ceremony, Westminster Abbey.
St Paul's, Belfast and Edinburgh Fields of Remembrance.
Security and Defence Day 11: Re-thinking Europe's Security priorities.
Saki Ruth Dockrill Memorial Lecture - Distortions of Hindsight: Britain's two World Wars with Germany, King's College London.

Defence News: 28 October 2011

UK forces' contribution to Libya campaign
Afghanistan operational air update
British and French navies plan major exercise for 2012
Royal town receives funds to strengthen ties with Armed Forces
RBL launches 2011 Poppy Appeal
Health needs audit finds NHS supports nuclear test veterans
Public consultation launched on dismantling nuclear-powered submarines

Defence in the Media: 28 October 2011

Summary 
Various media outlets report on the damage sustained in the Libyan city of Sirte during recent battles with pro-Gaddafi forces. |Various media report that around 600 people turned out to line the route of a repatriation ceremony for Rifleman Vijay Rai, who was killed recently in Afghanistan. | Various newspapers  report that Private Shane Dixon, 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, was saved by his Mk 7 helmet when he was shot in the head during an exchange of fire with insurgents in Helmand province. | The Independent, the Times and the Sun report that a US Drone strike has killed five commanders of a powerful Pakistani Taliban faction that has been responsible for attacking ISAF forces in Afghanistan. |  The Independent features Captain James Jeffrey, The Queen's Royal Lancers, who writes on war poetry ahead of the publication of Heroes: 100 Poems from the New Generation of War Poets. | Various papers report that Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) vice chairman, Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, has said that those responsible for the death of Col Gaddafi could face trial as the initial investigation into his death revealed wrongdoing. | The Independent reports that Libya's NTC has asked for NATO's operation over Libya to continue and for further military advisers to help protect against any remnant pro-Gaddafi forces and to secure the country's borders. | Various papers report that bonuses paid to senior civil servants totalled £140m last year, of which MOD senior staff were awarded more than £40m. | Also in the Times is a piece on the death of the King of Saudi Arabia, which reports that Defence Secretary Philip Hammond accompanied HRH The Prince of Wales on a visit to the country to pay their respects. | Finally, the BBC and various newspapers covered yesterday's Royal British Legion  launch of the 2011 Poppy appeal with TV personality Gethin Jones and vocalists The Soldiers. |

The need for British troops in Helmand
In an interview in the Daily Telegraph the head of the Afghan National Army in Helmand, Brigadier General Sheran Shah, speaks of the importance of Britain's support to his country and of his wish for British forces to "fight together with us in the front line until 2014." Brig Gen Shah adds: "If the British leave, in my personal opinion, this will have a negative effect on security."

UK forces are in Afghanistan, as part of a 49-nation coalition, to prevent international terrorists from again using Afghanistan as an operating base. Our main effort is to build the capability of the Afghan National Security Forces so that, in time, they can do this for themselves. 

Great progress has been made in this endeavour but, as Brig Gen Shah suggests, Afghanistan’s own forces are not yet ready to do so across the country. However, the groundwork for transition to an Afghan security lead has been laid over the last few years through training and work to improve governance and development in Afghanistan. The formal transition process began in July, in seven districts announced by President Karzai in March.

Transition is a process rather than an event in time, and it will take the next three years to complete.  Transition does not mean an early exit nor does it equate to early drawdown of troops.  As the capacity of the Afghan forces grows, the role of international troops will evolve, moving from principally combat to training and support roles. 

By the end of 2014, the Afghan National Security Forces will lead on security operations in all provinces across Afghanistan. But the UK and international community will have a long-term commitment to Afghanistan, and will continue to support its forces in several areas, particularly training, after 2014. The UK will also continue to have extensive diplomatic and development links with Afghanistan.

Abuse of MOD credit cards
The Times reports that dozens of civil servants, including five MOD officials, have been reprimanded, cautioned or jailed for abusing government credit cards.

The MOD is one of the largest departments in Government, with military and civilian personnel using these cards at locations around the world; including military personnel stationed overseas on operations. We have a larger number of staff than other departments, with 186,000 military personnel and 83,000 civilians.

All spending on Government Procurement Cards is subject to rigorous controls. Many of the questions that are being raised arise because transactions are categorised by merchant type rather than what was actually purchased. For example, where the grid shows £1,747.22 being spent in a 'jewellery store', this was actually the annual support contract for the flexi-time clocking-in machine at a specific MOD site. The retailer was classified as specialising in 'timekeeping' which, in turn, Visa then classified under 'jewellery stores'.

The new Defence Secretary is looking at audit processes across the Department as part of his assessment of how the MOD works. In the meantime, if specific examples of apparently questionable purchases are brought to our attention, spot audits will be carried out, and if any impropriety is discovered, disciplinary action will be taken.

Image of the Day: 28 October 2011

To mark the launch of the 2011 Scottish Poppy Appeal, soldiers from The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS), formed a '90' shape in celebration of the annual fundraising campaign's 90th anniversary [Picture: Mark Owens, crown copyright/MOD, 2011]

 

Defence Diary: 28 October 2011

Today, Friday 28 October
Media facility for recipients of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) awards, at Wattisham Airfield.

UN Security Council debate: Women, peace and security.

Monday 31 October
3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines parliamentary reception.
Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging memorial service, Lincoln Cathedral.

Tuesday 1 November
Frontline club discussion - The Arab Spring: Have the torturers been stopped?

London School of Economics lecture - Andrew Feinstein on 'Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade'.

London conference on cyberspace, until 2 November.

TV programme of interest: 'The Most Courageous Raid of WWII', BBC2, 2100hrs. Lord Ashdown tells the story of the 'Cockleshell Heroes', who raided Nazi-occupied Bordeaux in 1942.

Wednesday 2 November
Royal British Legion Poppy Day launch reception on HMS Mersey, Canary Wharf, London.

Thursday 3 November
Inquest in Sutton Coldfield into the death of Captain Andrew Griffiths, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2 LANCS), who died on Sunday 5 September 2010 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Wellington Academy Combined Cadet Force official opening ceremony.

Royal British Legion London Poppy Day launch.

London School of Economics lecture: Sarah Lyall, Justin Webb - Them and Us: A special relationship?

Chatham House lecture: 20 years on - Perspectives on the fall of the Soviet Union.

Friday 4 November
1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES) homecoming media day. 

Defence News: 27 October 2011

Army's Apache helicopters dominate aviation awards
Royal Marines return from Afghanistan to heroes' welcome
RAF officers make a Great Escape
Royal Engineers build roads to a better future in Helmand

Defence in the Media: 27 October 2011

Summary
Sky News featured a report from the Libyan city of Sirte looking at the damage caused by fighting, and the huge task involved in rebuilding the area. | Various media outlets report that Colonel Gaddafi's fugitive son Saif al-Islam is said to be preparing to turn himself in to the International Criminal Court. | The Daily Mail reports that a secret cache of Colonel Gaddafi's chemical weapons has been discovered in Libya, according to the country's new rulers. | The Guardian features an interview with Gaddafi's driver of 30 years, who is now imprisoned in Misurata, about the former leader's final hours. | The same newspaper also reports that Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey has called for the death of Colonel Gaddafi to be 'properly investigated'. | The Sun reports that this year's Poppy Appeal has been launched by Lance Corporal Tyler Christopher of 4th Battalion The Rifles, who lost both his legs after being wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan. | The Times reports that at least 10 people were killed and 24 wounded when a bomb attached to a fuel lorry was detonated outside NATO's Bagram air base in Afghanistan. | The Daily Star and the Daily Telegraph feature stories about Royal Marines from 42 Commando being welcomed home by their families after arriving back at Exeter Airport following a six-month tour of Afghanistan. | The Wall Street Journal Europe reports that a British officer has teamed up with an American former male model to pioneer the use of meditation and yoga to promote peace in Afghanistan.

Cost of contract negotiators
An article in The Sun today criticises the amount the MOD has spent hiring consultancy firm Alix Partners to renegotiate a number of major defence contracts. The renegotiation of contracts as a result of decisions made in the Strategic Defence and Security Review required significant highly-skilled resources. Alix Partners were hired to provide specialist assistance, and overall these re-negotiations are expected to contribute to saving hundreds of millions of pounds. Overall, the MOD has delivered dramatic savings to its consultancy expenditure over the last five years, from £261m down to £26m.