Defence News

Blog updates over Christmas 2012

Please note that this blog will not be updated throughout the Christmas period.

Normal service will resume on Wednesday 2 January 2013. Any important Defence announcements will, in the meantime, be published on the MOD homepage at its new home on the GOV.UK website: www.gov.uk/mod

Defence News: 21 December 2012

David Cameron visits troops in Afghanistan
MOD gives blueprint to potential infrastructure partners
Typhoon for Oman
MOD launches new Skynet satellite
Princess Royal attends naval cadets' passing out parade

 

Defence in the Media: 21 December 2012

Summary
Extensive coverage has been given to Prime Minister David Cameron's Christmas visit to Afghanistan. Government officials have promised an extra £230 million from Treasury reserves will be spent on military kit to see the campaign through. | Various papers report that car maker Jaguar is to provide around 20 sports cars to take injured soldiers home from Headley Court today for Christmas. | The Daily Mail reports that members of the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, arrived home from Afghanistan yesterday in time to spend Christmas with their families. | The Daily Telegraph reports that David Cameron will fly to the Middle East today to oversee a multi-billion pound deal to sell 12 new Typhoon fighter jets to the Government of Oman. | The Daily Telegraph reports that the MOD has awarded a £258m contract to AgustaWestland to support the RAF’s fleet of search and rescue helicopters, safeguarding 500 jobs. | The same newspaper features an article written by the Minister for Defence  Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne, who praises Sea King helicopters and discusses the impact the latest contract will have on the future of Defence capabilities. | Various papers report that the MOD has paid £14 million in compensation to Iraqis who complained that they were illegally detained and tortured by British forces during the five-year occupation of the south-east of the country. | Various papers report that the last remaining veterans of the Arctic convoy, around 200 men, are to receive a medal, 67 years after their efforts in the Second World War.

Image of the Day: 21 December 2012

Christmas messages from Afghanistan:

Sergeant Ben Townley, currently working in Forward Operating Base Oulette, would like to say: "Happy Christmas to all my family and friends back home, love to you all. Looking forward to seeing you all soon, have a good one xxx."
Back row from left: Lance Bombadier Kim Smith with Gunners Kieran Crosbie, Luca Jospephs, Kaiden Simpson and Anna Walton. Front row from left: Captain Emma Wardall and Lance Corporal Joe Serna. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas from Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan.
Craftsman Kevin Easton, currently working in Lashkar Gah, would like to say: "Merry Christmas to my girlfriend Kelsey and my friends and family. Have a good one."
From left: Captain Huw Jones, Private Chavon Thompson and Private Gavin Barlow "wish everyone a Merry Christmas from the medics at Patrol Base Salang".
Lance Corporal (LCpl) Emma Farmer (left) wishes "all my family and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Missing you all loads, see you soon on R-and-R". LCpl Becky Hitchcock (right) wishes "everyone back home a Merry Christmas. Thank you for the parcels, missing you all loads. See you soon". Both are currently serving in Forward Operating Base Oulette and would like to say: "Merry Christmas Everyone."
Members of 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS) Warrior Group would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from Afghanistan.
Sergeant Phil Kirby, currently serving with 1 SCOTS in Forward Operating Base Sparta, would like to say: "Merry Christmas to everyone."
Members of the Royal Dragoon Guards, currently serving in Patrol Base 2, relax during some rare time off over the Christmas period to play 'Soccer AM's' cross bar challange, after creating a make shift goal of two Husky vehicles and a set of ladders.
Sergeant Jody Mardling, currently serving in Camp Bastion, would like to say: "Wishing my family and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year especially my beautiful princess Megan. Love you all."
Father Christmas aka Sergeant Phil Kirby, currently serving with 1 SCOTS in Forward Operating Base Sparta, invited his fellow soldiers to tell 'Santa' what they wanted for Christmas.
Corporal Adam Fell (left) and Trooper Thomas Kingston would like to wish their hometown of Burnley a Merry Christmas.
Coporal Gareth Scutt, currently working in Forward Operating Base Shawqat with his search dog Jam, would like to say: "Happy Christmas to Leah and Amanda and everyone at home." [All pictures: Corporal Dek Traylor, Royal Air Force, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 21 December 2012

Monday 24 December
Christmas Eve.

Tuesday 25 December
Christmas Day.
TV programme of interest: The Choir: A year with the Military Wives, BBC 2, 2045hrs - we hear from Gareth Malone and key members of the choir as they reflect on their extraordinary journey.

Wednesday 26 December
Boxing Day.

Friday 28 December
Release of 1982 papers from the National Archives, includes Falkland Islands.

Saturday 29 December
New Year Honours announced.

Monday 31 December
New Year's Eve.

Tuesday 1 January 2013
New Year's Day.

Defence News: 20 December 2012

MOD awards £258 million Sea King helicopter support contract
Prime Minister announces reduction in UK troop numbers in Afghanistan
Recognition for veterans of Arctic Convoys and Bomber Command

Defence in the Media: 20 December 2012

Summary
Various papers report that Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has confirmed that Britain's troop numbers in Afghanistan will be reduced by 3,800 to 5,200 by the end of 2013. | BBC News Online reports that a powerful new satellite for military communications, Skynet 5D, has been launched into orbit by a rocket fired from French Guiana. | The Daily Star reports that British soldiers serving in Afghanistan have been sent 130 tonnes of Christmas cards and gifts; five times the usual monthly amount. | The Guardian reports that Helen Perry, the mother of Lance Corporal Michael Pritchard, has renewed calls for an apology from the MOD over his death in Afghanistan in 2009. | Various papers report that veterans of the Arctic convoys have welcomed news that the Government will issue a belated campaign medal for their Second World War service.

British troop withdrawal from Afghanistan
Amongst coverage in today's media about the Prime Minister's announcement that 3,800 British personnel are to be withdrawn from Afghanistan during 2013, the Daily Mirror runs a piece headlined 'Left in Danger'. This article suggests that the approximately 5,200 personnel remaining in Afghanistan after this drawdown will be left at greater risk because they 'may be left with the worst equipment'. This is categorically untrue.

Every serviceman and unit deployed to Afghanistan is fully equipped for the operations they are asked to undertake and this will remain the case until the last individual comes home. Having invested many millions of pounds in improved equipment and protection for our Armed Forces personnel over recent years, we would not withdraw it from operational theatre early to prevent it from being used.

Furthermore, the piece refers specifically to the UK withdrawing MRAP, or Mine Resistant Ambush Protected, vehicles from Afghanistan. The UK does not and never has owned any of these vehicles.

The reduction to UK force levels announced yesterday is in accordance with the strategy agreed at the NATO Lisbon Summit in 2010 and is consistent with our shared objective with the Afghan Government to complete our combat mission by the end of 2014. It reflects the increasing capacity and capability of the Afghan National Security Forces who - thanks in large part to the skill, professionalism, hard work and sacrifice of members of the British Armed Forces - are more and more able to take responsibility for security in their own country.

Image of the Day: 20 December 2012

Members of HMS Protector's ship's company have taken to the ice in Antarctica dressed as Father Christmas in support of the ship's affiliated charity, the East Anglian Children's Hospice. Click here to read more. Pictured here, Rudolph (Able Seaman Scott) gets off to a flying start [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Arron Hoare, Crown Copyright/MOD 2012]

Defence Diary: 20 December 2012

Today, Thursday 20 December
House of Commons rises.
Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth passing out parade.

Monday 24 December
Christmas Eve.

Tuesday 25 December
Christmas Day.
TV programme of interest: The Choir: A year with the Military Wives, BBC 2, 2045hrs - we hear from Gareth Malone and key members of the choir as they reflect on their extraordinary journey.

Wednesday 26 December
Boxing Day.

Friday 28 December
Release of 1982 papers from the National Archives, includes Falkland Islands.

Saturday 29 December
New Year Honours announced.

Monday 31 December
New Year's Eve.

Tuesday 1 January 2013
New Year's Day.

Defence News: 19 December 2012

HMS Monmouth reassures shipping with anti-piracy exercise
HMS Protector takes to the ice for a charity Santa run
HMS Sutherland returns in time for Christmas
Christmas joy for old soldier who finally got his medal