Defence News

Defence News: 30 November 2011

East Midlands welcomes 9th/12th Royal Lancers back from Afghanistan
RAF Akrotiri supporting operations in Afghanistan

Defence in the Media: 30 November 2011

Summary
Various media report that MOD staff are helping to man the UK's borders today as up to two million public sector workers go on strike in protest against pension reforms. | BBC Breakfast reported from Camp Bastion urging the public not to send unsolicited parcels to Armed Forces personnel in Afghanistan over Christmas as it overburdens the British Forces Post Office and stops post from family and friends reaching loved ones on the front line. | The Daily Mirror reports that a thousand mourners turned out in Barnsley yesterday to pay tribute to Territorial Army soldier Private Matthew Thornton who was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan earlier this month. | There is widespread coverage of Pakistan's decision to withdraw from the international conference on Afghanistan in Bonn on Monday 5 December 2011 in protest at the NATO strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. | The Daily Express reports that a £5m task force to tackle the theft of metal from war memorials is being set up by the Government. | The Daily Telegraph reports that members of the Armed Forces, including those on the front line, could be hit by public sector pay cuts. | Also in the Telegraph is a comment piece by Andrew Gilligan on RAF Search and Rescue teams in light of the decision to privatise the service.

Image of the Day: 30 November 2011

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment paraded through Lichfield on Monday, 28 November 2011, following their return from a successful tour of duty in Afghanistan. The route through Lichfield took the soldiers from the cathedral, past the Guildhall, where they saluted the Colonel of the Mercian Regiment, Brigadier Andrew Sharpe, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Colonel Michael Beatty, and the Mayor of Lichfield, Councillor Brian Bacon, and back to the cathedral for a service of thanksgiving. [Picture: Sergeant Russ Nolan RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Defence Diary: 30 November 2011

Today, Wednesday 30 November
Permanent Secretary Ursula Brennan, Chief of Defence Materiel Bernard Gray and Vice Admiral Lambert giving evidence at the Public Accounts Committee hearing on the Major Project Review 2011.



3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment homecoming parade, Wolverhampton.



International Institute for Strategic Studies event: Sir Peter Ricketts on National Security in Practice: The First 18 months of The National Security Council.



London School of Economics event: Arab Nationalism, Islamism and the Arab Uprising.



King's College London seminar - Afghanistan & The Bonn Conference 2011: Development, Security and Expectations of the State.



TUC day of action.
Adjournment debate in House of Commons: Radiation at Dalgety Bay.

Tomorrow, Thursday 1 December
Repatriation to RAF Brize Norton of Rifleman Sheldon Steel, from 5th Battalion The Rifles, who was killed in Afghanistan on 27 November 2011.
Inquest in Chester-le-Street into the death of Sapper Daryn Roy, of 21 Engineer Regiment, who was killed in Afghanistan on 3 May 2010.



Funeral at Coventry Cathedral of Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, who was killed when he was ejected from his Hawk T1 aircraft on 8 November 2011.



Permanent Secretary Ursula Brennan speaking at Royal United Services Institute conference: Women in Defence and Security Leadership.



The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, homecoming parade, Aberdeen.
3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment homecoming parade, Walsall.



Community Covenant signing, South Tyneside.



Royal College of Surgeons discussion - Helping the wounded: disability and the military.
Commander Joint Fighter Command takes up post.

Friday 2 December
HMS Edinburgh and HMS St Albans homecoming media facility, Portsmouth.

London Regiment media day on Operational Training and Advisory Group, Thetford. 

The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, homecoming parade, Inverness.

Saturday 3 December
International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 

Help for Heroes rugby challenge at Twickenham.

Monday 5 December
Inquest in Sutton Coldfield into the death of Marine Richard Hollington, from 40 Commando Royal Marines, who died on 20 June 2010 from wounds sustained in Afghanistan.
Bonn Conference on Afghanistan.
TV programme of interest: 'Ross Kemp: Back on the Frontline', Sky1, 2100hrs.
Part 4 of 5.

Tuesday 6 December
Inquest in Sutton Coldfield into the death of Marine Steven Birdsall, from 40 Commando Royal Marines, who died on 14 June 2010 from wounds sustained in Afghanistan.
9th/12th Royal Lancers Op HERRICK 14 medal parade, Hohne, Germany.

Wednesday 7 December
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond giving evidence to House of Commons Defence Committee on Defence Reform and progress of Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Defence News: 29 November 2011

35 Engineer Regiment beat the clock to build Helmand checkpoint
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards mark homecoming with Glasgow parade
Royal Navy's new ice-breaker deploys to Antarctica
Rifleman Sheldon Lee Jordan Steel killed in Afghanistan
Russian Ambassador thanks RAF crew for rescue
Injured para back on the pitch

Defence in the Media: 29 November 2011

Summary
There is various media coverage of yesterday's announcement on the future of Search and Rescue services (see below for more). | Various media also report on the findings of the Public Accounts Committee regarding Britain's Carrier Strike capability (see below). | There is continued coverage of the NATO strike on Saturday which resulted in the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers, with Pakistan denying it opened fire first. | ITV News had a feature on charity Hounds for Heroes which is helping ex-servicemen and women who struggle to do everyday things because of their injuries. | The Daily Telegraph reports that an MP has called for the introduction of a central register of fallen soldiers, following a rise in medal thefts. | The Daily Mirror reports that the Royal Navy's newest icebreaker has begun a seven-month deployment to Antarctica. | The Sun features its Military Awards, which are due to take place next month. | The Daily Mirror claims that soldiers and military police will secure borders during tomorrow's public sector strikes. | The Wall Street Journal reports that two NATO soldiers have been shot during clashes with Serb protesters in Kosovo. | The Guardian reports that Islamist rebels have banned UN and international aid agencies from central and southern Somalia.

Rifleman Sheldon Lee Jordan Steel killed in Afghanistan
It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Rifleman Sheldon Steel, from 5th Battalion The Rifles, was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 27 November 2011. Click here to read more.

UK Carrier Strike capability
Both the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee today published reports on the MOD's Carrier Strike capability. Several media sources have reported on inaccurate claims that a full Carrier Strike capability will not be achieved until 2030.

This is not true. The more capable Carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter fast jet will begin operating from our aircraft carrier from 2020, with six UK jets available for operations. By 2023, this number will increase to 12 UK jets onboard and we will be able to work with our allies to increase that number because of the interoperability that the Carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter allows.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "We are tackling the inherited black hole in the Defence Budget and, earlier this month, the National Audit Office [NAO] rightly recognised the work that this Government is undertaking to bring the Department's finances back into balance.

"When this Government came into power, the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers were already £1.6bn over budget. As part of an overall package of measures taken in the Strategic Defence and Security Review we have reduced overall spending on the Carrier Strike Programme by £4.4bn over the next ten years.

"The NAO and the Public Accounts Committee have both acknowledged that our decision to build a second aircraft carrier makes financial sense. Converting one of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers to operate the more capable Carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter fast jet from 2020 will maximise our military capability and enhance interoperability with our allies.

"Operating the more cost effective Carrier variant fast jet will, in the long term, offset the conversion costs and provide us with aircraft that have a longer range and carry a greater payload. Until our new Carrier capability comes into service, we can utilise our extensive basing and overflight rights to project decisive air power, as we showed during the Libya campaign."

Future of Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters and the Duke of Cambridge
Various papers follow up yesterday's announcement by the Department for Transport on the future of SAR provision. Some media sources have mistakenly reported that this announcement will directly impact on the Duke of Cambridge's future.

This announcement will not affect the Duke who became a fully operational Sea King pilot based at RAF Valley in 2010. It is anticipated that he will complete his SAR tour flying Sea Kings in 2013. Like all other military personnel it would be expected that at the end of his tour he would be redeployed at the discretion of the RAF.

Image of the Day: 29 November 2011

The Royal Navy's new ice patrol ship, HMS Protector, left Portsmouth yesterday for a seven-month deployment surveying and patrolling the frozen continent of Antarctica. Click here to read more. [Picture: LA(Phot) Arron Hoare, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Defence Diary: 29 November 2011

Today, Tuesday 29 November
Military Logistics Conference 2011, Bristol (until 1 Dec).



3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment homecoming parade, Tamworth and Burton-on-Trent.

Public Accounts Committee report on Carrier Strike.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 30 November
Permanent Secretary Ursula Brennan, Chief of Defence Materiel Bernard Gray and Vice Admiral Lambert giving evidence at the Public Accounts Committee hearing on the Major Project Review 2011.



3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment homecoming parade, Wolverhampton.



International Institute for Strategic Studies event: Sir Peter Ricketts on National Security in Practice: The First 18 months of The National Security Council.



London School of Economics event: Arab Nationalism, Islamism and the Arab Uprising.



King's College London seminar - Afghanistan & The Bonn Conference 2011: Development, Security and Expectations of the State.



TUC day of action.
Adjournment debate in House of Commons: Radiation at Dalgety Bay.

Thursday 1 December
Inquest in Chester-le-Street into the death of Sapper Daryn Roy, of 21 Engineer Regiment, who was killed in Afghanistan on 3 May 2010.



Funeral at Coventry Cathedral of Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, who was killed when he was ejected from his Hawk T1 aircraft on 8 November 2011.



Permanent Secretary Ursula Brennan speaking at Royal United Services Institute conference: Women in Defence and Security Leadership.



The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, homecoming parade, Aberdeen.
3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment homecoming parade, Walsall.



Community Covenant signing, South Tyneside.



Royal College of Surgeons discussion - Helping the wounded: disability and the military.
Commander Joint Fighter Command takes up post.

Friday 2 December
HMS Edinburgh and HMS St Albans homecoming media facility, Portsmouth.

London Regiment media day on Operational Training and Advisory Group, Thetford. 

The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, homecoming parade, Inverness.

Saturday 3 December
International Day of Persons with Disabilities. 

Help for Heroes rugby challenge at Twickenham.

Monday 5 December
Inquest in Sutton Coldfield into the death of Marine Richard Hollington, from 40 Commando Royal Marines, who died on 20 June 2010 from wounds sustained in Afghanistan.
Bonn Conference on Afghanistan.

Defence News: 28 November 2011

Afghan forces to take on security lead for Nad 'Ali
Transport Department to procure new civilian UK Search and Rescue service
Soldier from 5 RIFLES killed in Afghanistan
HMS Bangor home from Libya mission
Defence Inquests Unit wins Civil Service Award

Defence in the Media: 28 November 2011

Summary
There has been widespread media coverage this weekend of the Duke of Cambridge's involvement as co-pilot of an RAF Search and Rescue helicopter in the rescue of two sailors from the Irish Sea. | There is also widespread coverage of an incident in which 24 Pakistani troops were mistakenly killed in a NATO strike, with Pakistan ordering a review of all co-operation with the US and NATO. | Saturday's Daily Telegraph reported that General Khodaidad, Afghanistan's former minister for counter-narcotics, has said that opium production will spiral out of control once NATO forces leave the country. | Various papers and BBC Online reported that golfer Colin Montgomerie has visited troops in Camp Bastion. | The Guardian reported that France and the UK hope to deepen defence co-operation. | The Sunday Telegraph reported that Taliban fighters are being paid £100 a month to stop fighting NATO and Afghan forces as part of a reintegration effort. | The People interviewed pub landlady Victoria Williams on her Territorial Army role as a Royal Engineers searcher currently involved in the counter-IED effort in Afghanistan. | The Mail on Sunday reported that British military commanders are planning to use Russian railways built 140 years ago to bring home kit and equipment from Afghanistan. | The Sunday Mirror reported that a UK 'senior commander' has complained in a leaked post-tour report that there were not enough helicopters accessible to bomb disposal teams in Afghanistan and that men were left stranded for days. | The Sunday Express reported that soldiers returning from Afghanistan are unsure of what homes they will come back to as the Army is struggling with an accommodation shortage. | The Guardian reports that the Army is on standby to keep Britain's borders secure and handle passport queues during Wednesday's public sector strike. | The Daily Telegraph reports that the British-garrisoned district of Nad 'Ali in Afghanistan's Helmand province is being handed over to Afghan security control in the second tranche of the process known as transition. | The Daily Mirror reports that a soldier who sustained serious leg injuries in Afghanistan has to struggle up three flights of stairs to get home because his local council has been unable to house him in a property with a lift. | The Independent reports that the MOD has been highlighted as one of the most successful government departments in Whitehall, meeting all but four of its target deadlines.

Soldier from 5 RIFLES killed in Afghanistan
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must announce that a soldier from 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 RIFLES) was killed yesterday, Sunday 27 November 2011, in the Babaji area of the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. Click here to read more.

Investment in Trident
The Guardian reports that the MOD has been accused of being 'morally indefensible' and 'making a complete mockery of the democratic process' for continuing to spend money on renewing the nuclear deterrent before a formal decision on whether to do so has been taken.

The Government is committed to maintaining a continuous at sea nuclear deterrent based on Trident. This investment maintains the safety of the current Trident warhead stockpile, which will be in service until 2040, by sustaining essential facilities and skills. It also helps maintain the capability to design a replacement warhead should that be required following decisions in the next Parliament.

Snatch Land Rovers
The Independent on Sunday reported that defence chiefs continued to send troops out in lightly armoured Snatch Land Rovers for years after their own tests proved that the vehicles were critically vulnerable against roadside bombs.

Since 2004, there have been a number of upgrades to Snatch vehicles to provide greater protection in response to emerging threats. Older types of Snatch Land Rovers are no longer used on operations and the only variant which is, the Snatch Vixen Plus, has been significantly up-armoured and technically enhanced to provide the highest level of protection available for a vehicle of its size and weight.

In addition to upgrading Snatch, over the last five years, the MOD has approved billions of pounds to procure more than 2,500 armoured vehicles, including Mastiff, Ridgback, Husky and Wolfhound, to provide commanders on the ground with a range of options, depending on the requirements of the operation.

There is no delay to the Foxhound vehicle, which will ultimately replace Snatch Vixen Plus. The first of 200 of the new generation Light Protected Patrol Vehicles will be delivered as planned to Afghanistan in the next few months.