The Shape of Conservative Defence Policy Becomes Clearer

As we move closer to the General Election the shape of the likely Conservative Government’s defence policy is becoming clearer. Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox has already set out his intention to hold a comprehensive defence review to look at the structure and composition of our armed forces. However, even before that reports, a number of key planks of the Conservative approach are now clear.

At the Manchester Conservative party conference Liam Fox stated his intention to cut the number of MOD Civil Servants. At around 88,000, the total is very high compared to an Army of 100,000 and an Air Force of 40,000. However, the review will need to look at exactly where these cuts should fall. There are many MOD Civil Servants doing essential jobs that used to be done by service men and women, and for much less pay.

The area that could easily stand some cuts is in the Ministry of Defence itself. The armed forces are in my opinion heavily over-staffed at the top. The Army has HQ Land, the Navy has HQ Fleet and the Air Force has Air Command. Each of these directs and runs their respective service with suitably high-ranked officers and senior civilian staffs. Then we also have the Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood which oversees current operations in a tri-service environment. On top of these four Headquarters we have the Ministry of Defence itself, in many cases duplicating functions of the individual service commands. One of the Ministry’s functions is to support Ministers with direct advice and public relations but there is often tension between similar staffs in the Ministry and the individual service command headquarters.

I suggest that the MOD itself should be radically slimmed down and many of its functions devolved down to the service headquarters. There is no reason why the individual services cannot provide advice and guidance to Ministers through a much smaller central MOD staff. There may also be a few cases where the individual services should lose some staff and control to the MOD, such as in contracts, accounting and training. We simply cannot afford to have so many people behind desks when we are short of front-line manpower.

The second area where the Conservatives have been clear is in the announcement this week that the 25,000 strong British military presence in Germany would be ended. In the short term this could increase costs to the defence budget as facilities and accommodation have to be found or constructed in the UK, but it could save money in the longer term. Britain would also have to find training areas for the elements of the Army that are currently able to train on the German plains.

Liam Fox has also confirmed that he would wish to replace the aging Trident strategic nuclear missile system (right) and that will require major investment in the next 5-10 years. I think that that is the wrong decision and I fear that there will have to be further cuts in the Royal Navy’s already shrunken surface fleet in order to pay for it. I would prefer to see us nuclear arm some of the cruise missiles that we have on our hunter killer submarines and thereby downgrade our nuclear weapons programme.

The next Government will have to be radical and whilst in the current economic climate there may not be more money for defence, in my view it should avoid cutting the defence budget. One of the most damaging proposals to come out of the Government in recent weeks was the decision to cut the TA’s training budget in order to save a measly £20m. This has now been reversed under pressure from all sides but the salami slicing approach to defence cannot continue.

A defence review must seek to extract more front line bang for every Pound spent. Withdrawing from Germany, cutting the headquarters overhead and possibly restructuring some elements of the armed services will be essential. If we don’t do that we will find ourselves cutting major defence projects after we have invested millions or billions and selling some of the equipment that only last year was deemed essential. That could see us selling one of the planned two new aircraft carriers and having to depend on the French at times for maritime air cover. Such a prospect should send shivers down the spine of any patriotic naval strategist.

There are no easy choices but a Conservative government must ensure that our armed forces are properly funded for the tasks they are being asked to undertake. A strategic defence review must also ensure that the impact of further cuts on our influence in the world, are properly evaluated. A nation’s world influence is often measured by the size of its economy but the size and effectiveness of its armed forces are also a key factor, as well as its willingness to use them. If Britain wishes to avoid losing even more influence and prestige the Government must provide the funds to support armed forces that have worldwide reach and world-class equipment.

Defence is often seen as an easy cut but the consequences are only apparent when British territory or interests are threatened. We should not forget the lessons of the 1930’s, the Falklands conflict or the two Iraq wars. Maintenance of effective armed forces is a sensible insurance policy in an increasingly unstable 21^st Century.

Astute Hunter Killer Submarine Takes to the Seas

The biggest and most powerful attack submarine ever built for the Royal Navy – Astute – took to the seas this weekend. Astute set sail from Barrow-in-Furness to start her first set of sea trials and is now heading to her homeport of Faslane on the Clyde in Scotland.

Measuring nearly one hundred metres from bow to stern, Astute is longer than ten London buses. When fully stored, she will displace 7,800 tonnes of sea water, equivalent to 65 blue whales.

The Astute submarine has the latest stealth technology, a world-beating sonar system and is armed with 38 torpedoes and missiles – more than any previous Royal Navy submarine. She will be able to circumnavigate the entire globe while submerged and advanced nuclear technology means that she will never need to be refuelled.

Astute is expected to arrive in Faslane later this week and will now begin a set of sea trials ahead of her full acceptance with the Royal Navy next year.

Merlin Helicopters Ready for Afghanistan

The first RAF Merlin helicopter crews are ready to deploy to Afghanistan following pre-deployment training in the United States. The Merlins, from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, will deploy soon and will provide vital support to ground operations and increase the capacity of UK helicopter lift in Afghanistan by a further 25 per cent.

El Centro Naval Base in California is the US Navy’s main training base and has played host to crews from 28 and 78 Squadrons. They have been training for the unique challenges of the Afghan environment: the hot, high and dusty conditions.

The entire fleet is undergoing a £45M upgrade programme that will allow the helicopters to improve performance in the harsh conditions and protect against threats. Modifications include new rotor blades for ‘hot & high’ conditions and improved defensive aids against hostile threats.

Merlins can carry up to 20 personnel and will provide an additional capability to the Chinook and Lynx. Personnel from 78 Squadron are already in Afghanistan preparing for the arrival of the first helicopters, which are due by the end of the year.

Gibraltar’s Governor Hands Over

In a magnificent colonial ceremony Seventeen Gun Salutes were exchanged between the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and HMS Sutherland today as Lt Gen Fulton handed back the Keys of Gibraltar on relinquishing his post as the Governor of Gibraltar.

The Governor inspected a Guard of Honour drawn up from B Company of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment before handing the Keys of Gibraltar to the Port Sergeant for the last time. After saying his farewells to senior military officers and Gibraltar’s dignitaries, he bade farewell to the Chief Minister, the Hon Peter Caruana and Mrs Caruana at the ship’s gangway.

In uncharacteristically wet weather, HMS Sutherland, a Type 23 (Duke Class) frigate, was then escorted out of the Naval Base by patrol boats of the Gibraltar Squadron and the Gibraltar Services Police to carry His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar away from the Rock on the first stage of his journey back to UK.

Gibraltar is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom on the southern tip of the Spanish mainland. It has been a British colony since it was captured in 1704 and this was recognised in 1713 when under the treaty of Utrecht, Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in perpetuity. Despite several attempts by the Foreign Office to get shot of Gibraltar its people have remained loyal to Britain and have voted overwhelmingly to retain their British citizenship.

Latest Royal Navy Warship is Launched on the Clyde

Thousands turned out on the banks of the Clyde today to cheer on the latest ship to make up the Royal Navy’s formidable new Type 45 destroyer class. Defender was launched amid a cloud of balloons and fireworks by Lady Julie Massey, wife of the Deputy Head of the Navy Second Sea Lord Sir Alan Massey, to the fanfare of the Band of the Royal Marines.

Defender is the fifth ship of six in the Type 45 destroyer class. Good progress is being made on the programme: HMS Daring (ship one) has been commissioned into the Royal Navy and is on her final trials prior to her entering service, planned for February 2010. Dauntless (ship two) has recently completed two very successful sets of sea trials while Diamond (ship three) has just begun her sea trials. Dragon (ship four) was launched in Scotland at the end of 2008 and Duncan (ship six) is still under construction in Govan.

As versatile as they are powerful, the Type 45s have a range of capabilities. They will be able to carry up to 60 Royal Marines Commandos and their equipment, and operate a Chinook-sized helicopter from the flight deck. The standards of accommodation also exceed previous classes thanks to the ships’ size. They will displace 7,350 tons and measure 152.4m x 21.2m x 5.7m, with a crew of 190 and top speed of 29 knots.

The Type 45 programme is providing 4,000 shipbuilding jobs on the Clyde, 3,600 shipbuilding jobs in Portsmouth at its peak and many more jobs at sub-contractors around the country. However the programme has been slashed from an original stated intent to build a class of 12 Type 45’s down to the present class of just 6.

Puma Helicopter Upgrade Announced

Following news of the upgrade to the RAF’s fleet of Chinook helicopters operating in Afghanistan, the MoD has now announced that the RAF’s fleet of Puma helicopters will receive a £300M upgrade that will enhance performance and enable it to operate in the toughest and most demanding conditions. The RAF currently operates a fleet of Puma support helicopters in two operational squadrons, 33 Squadron based at RAF Benson and 230 Squadron based at RAF Aldergrove. The Pumas are used as battlefield helicopters within the Joint Helicopter Command.

Twenty-eight Pumas, which can each carry up to 16 infantrymen, are to be updated with new and more powerful engines, new flight control equipment and modern cockpit and communications technology and the MOD has options to add two further aircraft to the programme. Deliveries are due to start in 2011 and the first 14 aircraft are planned to be in service by the end of 2012.

The upgrade includes a £220M contract to equip the Puma fleet for at least ten years’ further service. Around £45M will also be spent on the new engines with the remaining £35M being spent on other contracts in support of the upgrade. The new Puma engines will give 35 per cent more power and 25 per cent better fuel-efficiency than the existing engines.

Across a range of missions there are significant improvements in the range and payload capability of the aircraft, with a three-fold overall capability improvement. These improvements are most evident in the hottest and highest conditions. This will enable the Puma to be deployed worldwide to meet the demands of the Armed Forces.

Prime contractor for the Puma Life Extension Programme is Eurocopter UK. UK sub contractors include Thales at Raynes Park, London and Leicester, Chelton at Yatton near Bath, Smiths at Gloucester, Rockwell Collins in South Wales, QinetiQ at Boscombe Down, Wilts and Selex at Luton.  The new Puma engines will be supplied by Turbomeca.

HMS Ark Royal Sets Sail Again

A faster, leaner and greener HMS Ark Royal (R07) took to the seas again today for the first time since February. The aircraft carrier has just undergone a £12m upgrade in her home port of Portsmouth and embarked today on two weeks of post-maintenance tests. She is heading to the Royal Navy’s training areas off the south west of England for marine and weapon engineering trials.

During the upgrade her hull was painted with new ‘intersleek’ paint – allowing her to cut through the seas more quickly – which will cut fuel costs and emissions by nine percent. It will also increase her top speed by two knots to 30 knots.

The work, carried out by BVT Surface Fleet, also included new exhaust systems, an updated IT network and improvements to sewage treatment plants. Her gearboxes, main engines and diesel generators have also been refurbished.

Ark Royal will resume her role as Fleet Flagship in the New Year, taking over from her sister ship HMS Illustrious (R06) which took on the honour during Ark Royal’s upgrade. She will also become the UK’s high-readiness ‘Strike Carrier’. 

HMS Invincible (of Falklands Conflict fame) decommissioned in 2005 and is currently on “Extended Readiness” in Portsmouth until next year when she is likely to be put up for sale.

The ships displace approximately 22,500 tonnes and measure 210m x 36m x 6.5m. They have a maximum speed of 28 knots (before the Ark’s paint upgrade) and can embark a tailored air group as required.

Upgrade for RAF Chinooks in Afghanistan

The MOD announced today that RAF Chinook helicopters operating in Afghanistan will receive a £408m upgrade to deliver more powerful engines and more advanced, digitised cockpits. The upgrade will include a £128m contract which will give the whole Chinook fleet a significant boost by fitting a more powerful engine, enabling the Chinooks to operate more effectively in the hot summers and high altitudes of Afghanistan.

The new modern, fuel efficient engines also mean that despite being more powerful, the fleet will be able to fly further without refuelling and spend longer supporting the front line, before needing re-servicing. The new engines will be the more powerful Honeywell T55-L-714A engine, which develops 3,750 Shaft horsepower at 4,000ft – a 16-20 per cent increase over the existing engines. They will be fitted by Vector Aerospace at Fleetlands, in Gosport, and will be manufactured at Honeywell Inc. in the USA.

Chinook pilots will also benefit from improved visibility, thanks to a £280m contract to fit Thales ‘glass cockpits’, which will improve the capability of the aircraft under demanding low light conditions. The cockpit enhancement programme will see Boeing, as the prime contractor, working with Thales UK and Vector Aerospace, which has long experience of Chinook maintenance and upgrade work. 

The RAF currently operates a fleet of 38 Chinook support helicopters in three operational squadrons (7, 18 & 27) and an Operational Conversion Unit, based at RAF Odiham. The Chinook Wing forms the heavy-lift element of the Joint Helicopter Command.

RAF Chinooks are used for a variety of roles, including carrying up to 55 troops or 10 tonnes of freight. The crew comprises two pilots or a pilot and a weapons systems operator and two crewmen.

Currently employed on essential support duties to NATO forces in Afghanistan, the aircraft has been heavily employed on a wide range of operations in recent years, including Iraq, Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, the Gulf War and the Falklands.

Multi-million Pound Support Deal for Royal Navy’s Newest Warships

The MoD this week announced the award of a £309m contract to BVT Surface Fleet (BVT) for the future support of the Royal Navy’s newest destroyers, the six strong Type 45 class. This new contract is expected to sustain around one hundred and twenty jobs, primarily in Portsmouth.

BVT has won the contract for the in-service support to HMS DARING and her sister ships for up to seven years starting from January 2010. HMS DARING is planned to enter service with the Royal Navy in February 2010, and will provide a step-change in the Royal Navy’s air defence capability. 

(Daring and Dauntless are pictured left)

The majority of maintenance work will be carried out at Portsmouth Naval Base, the Type 45’s home port.  The contract covers support for platform equipments such as the galley apparatus as well as more complex machinery, including the propulsion system.

Following the initial support period of up to seven years, Type 45 support is expected to transition to the developing Surface Ship Support Programme, which will manage support to warships through an alliance between MOD, BVT and Babcock.

HMS Daring (D32) is currently completing MoD-led sea trials before she is delivered into service with the Royal Navy, scheduled in early 2010. The second ship in the class, Dauntless (D33), has just completed her second set of contractor-led sea trials. The third ship, Diamond (D34), is expected to begin her first set of Trials in the autumn while those for Dragon (D35), the fourth Type 45, are scheduled to begin in 2010. The fifth Type 45, Defender (D36), is due to be launched on the Clyde later this year.

The original plans were for a class of twelve ships, which was cut to eight and then six. There are fears that the sixth ship Duncan (D37) could also be the victim of Defence cuts.

Royal Navy Drugs Success

At a time when all the publicity has been on the Army’s calls for more resources in Afghanistan it is useful to be reminded of the ongoing efforts of the Royal Navy in countering the criminal gangs that produce and smuggle drugs.

HMS Cumberland (pictured left) – a batch 3 Type 22 frigate – has again lived up to her motto ‘Justitia Tenax – Tenacious of Justice’ by returning to the Gulf region and seizing 12.4 tonnes of cannabis resin being smuggled in a dhow.  Patrolling the so called ‘Hash Highway’, as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, she successfully intercepted this, her first seizure of narcotics this deployment.

Cumberland and coalition forces had been covertly tracking a small cargo dhow over night, operating along the shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden.  At first light the ship launched both of her Pacific 24 sea boats into high seas, with a Royal Marines boarding team, to investigate the dhow’s intent.  With Cumberland’s gun crews providing guard, the heavily armed boats made their way through difficult waters towards the dhow.
 
Following a brief exchange of words between the dhow and ship, the sea boats approached the cargo vessel, which was also moving significantly in the high sea state, to take it under control and board with specially trained Royal Navy personnel to conduct formal State verification and ensure that her official documentation was in order.  During these checks a number of factors made the Navy team suspicious, which led to the decision for an in-depth search of the boat.  It was during this search that a secret compartment was found, containing large bales of narcotic material, later identified as cannabis resin and sufficient to make over 35 million ’spliffs’ (verified with SOCA) .

On completion of the operation the resin was destroyed and Cumberland now continues her patrol in the Gulf of Aden.

HMS Cumberland’s previous exploits in the Gulf of Aden were during her last deployment as part of NATO’s Op Allied Provider Counter Piracy Mission, where her crew apprehended 8 pirates in Nov 09 and subsequently transferred them to Kenya for prosecution.  She sailed from Plymouth on 25 May 09 and will be returning to the UK in December 09.

CTF 150 is a multinational task force operating under the Combined Maritime Force in the region that conducts Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in and around the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.  The Task Force was created to counter terrorism, prevent smuggling and deter other destabilizing activities to develop security in the maritime environment and create a lawful maritime order.  MSO complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seeks to disrupt violent extremist use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.  Through training opportunities with regional partners, CTF 150 enhances existing cooperative relationships which aim to support regional countries’ struggles against violent extremism.

HMS CUMBERLAND AT A GLANCE:
Crew:
29 Officers
61 Senior Rates       
148 Junior Rates
4 Civilian Staff       

Specifications:                                 Armament:
Length – 148.1m                                Harpoon Surface to Surface Missiles
Breadth – 14.8m                                 GWS 25 (MOD 3) Seawolf Missile System
Displacement – 5400 tonnes                 1x 4.5 Mk 8 Gun
Draught – 6.4m                                   1x Goalkeeper CIWS
                                                         2 x 20mm Guns

Helicopter Capability:
1 Lynx Mk 8
Sea Skua Anti-Surface Missiles
Stingray Anti-Submarine Torpedoes

Carries two Pacific 24 Sea Boats for:
- Landing and supporting an 8 man boarding team. Boarding team drawn from both Ship’s Company and embarked Royal Marines
- Each fitted with one General Purpose Machine Gun

As well as intercepting drugs smugglers HMS Cumberland has also been instrumental in intercepting pirates off Somalia:

New Aircraft Carriers Begun as Defence Review is Announced

The construction of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers pressed forward today as Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal performed the steel cutting for the first of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers at BVT Surface Fleet’s shipyard in Govan, Glasgow.

Today’s ceremony marked the start of the manufacture of the Royal Navy’s largest ever warships. Together with the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft and the brand new Type 45 destroyers, they will form the cornerstone of Britain’s future ability to jointly project air power worldwide from land or sea at a time and place of UK’s choosing.

Guided by Scott Ballingal, a 21 year old BVT apprentice from Erskine who will be working on the Carriers, Rear Admiral the Princess Royal pushed the button to start the computer guided laser that cut the first piece of steel for the hull of these immense new ships.

Scott is one of 70 new apprentices who have been taken on by BVT to support work on the carrier. The programme has reinvigorated apprenticeship schemes at the prime shipyards and provides a solid workload for the coming years.

Three other major sections (called lower blocks) of the ship will be assembled at yards at Portsmouth and Rosyth. Other fabrication work will be done at the Appledore shipyards in Devon. Each block will be transported to Rosyth dockyard where they will be joined together to form the hull of the ship.

While construction is just beginning, the project has moved on apace since the manufacture contract was signed in July last year, with £700M worth of sub-contracts placed for the equipment and furnishings that will kit out the ships from the weapons systems to the galleys and cabins. UK industry has also benefited from the development phase of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and is well placed to win further work as this programme progresses well into the 21st century.

The news about the carriers came on the same day that Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth set out the process towards undertaking a Strategic Defence Review in the next Parliament. The recently updated National Security Strategy (NSS) will provide the framework for the review which will be designed to ensure that the UK’s Armed Forces are fully prepared for future threats and challenges to Britain’s security.

The process will undertake an examination of a range of issues, including:

* the strategic context for defence, including the lessons the UK has learned from recent operations and the changing character of conflict
* experiences of working in partnership with other arms of government
* the contribution defence can make to the projection of soft power – exerting influence to prevent conflicts
* technological changes in defence
* the scope for more effective processes in defence, including acquisition
* the modern day requirements on and aspirations of our Armed Forces personnel

The Government has already made clear that the Trident nuclear system will not be subject to the review and there are strong hints that the two new carriers will also be exempt. Since these are two of the biggest items of expenditure (if the Trident replacement is considered) the RAF’s huge Typhoon (Euro-fighter) order is likely to be in the firing line for cuts.

There may also be pressure for further reductions in the number of single service bases with a growing tendency towards large tri-service units. The number of military headquarters should also be open to question as well as staffing numbers at the Ministry of Defence.

Today is Armed Forces Day

Today across the country local communities joined together to celebrate the magnificent contribution made by our Armed Forces. Unlike Remembrance Day in November the focus of this day is very much on those currently and recently serving, although many veterans will participate and will receive veterans badges at local ceremonies.

For some reason, here in Reading the main event will be tomorrow (Sunday 28th June) in Forbury Gardens from 12 noon to 5pm. will open with a performance given by The Band of the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers from the bandstand at 12 noon. The Band of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers appear by kind permission of the Director of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (Army). Other musical entertainment will include a Dame Vera Lynn tribute from Diane James from 1pm to 2pm and the Reading Central Band of the Salvation Army will be playing between 2.30pm and 4pm.

An array of fundraising, information and recruiting stands relating to all aspects of the Armed Forces will fill the gardens. There will also be demonstrations and displays from representatives of REME Garrison Arborfield and HQ Company 7 Rifles. There will be something for children too with medal making workshops, dog tag making activities, an assault course, balloon modelling and face painting.

The event will also incorporate a Veterans Badge Presentation Ceremony at 4pm. Twenty veterans have been selected from those who applied to receive the badge at the Forbury Gardens event and remaining applicants will be invited to receive their badge at the Mayor’s Parlour later in the year.

Outside of the Forbury Gardens, the REME Garrison Arborfield will host a static vehicle display in Broad Street and The Band of the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers will be performing on The Oracle Riverside, before returning to the Forbury Gardens for the closing ceremony at 4.30pm.

List of Reading’s Armed Forces Day participants follows:

- Royal Engineers Association
- Reading Royal British Legion
- RGBW Reginmental Association (Reading Branch)
- SSAFA Forces Help
- SSAFA Forces Help (Reading)
- Reading Sea Cadets
- RBL Gurkhas Association
- Royal Marines Association
- TRBL Legion in the Community
- Royal Naval Association
- Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regimental Association Reading Branch (Berkshire & DERR Old Comrades)
- REME Garrison Arborfield
- Age Concern
- Royal County of Berkshire Army Cadet Force (Caversham Detachment)
- Army Armed Forces Careers Office
- Duchess of Kent House Charity
- British Red Cross
- Caversham Royal British Legion
- Royal Air Forces Association
- Royal Army Service Corps & Royal Corps Transport
- Burma Star Association
- HQ Company 7 Rifles
- C & J Medals
- The Coldstream Guards Association
- Grenadier Guards Association
- Household Division Association
- 1st Battalion Irish Guards

Come along to the Forbury Gardens in Reading tomorrow and have a great afternoon out.

Revolutionary new textile armour unveiled by MOD

A ground-breaking new armour system and a fleet of new armoured vehicles that will provide better protection on the frontline in Afghanistan were unveiled by the Ministry of Defence at the defence equipment event called DVD today.

The revolutionary, textile-based TARIAN vehicle armour system will give lightweight protection against RPGs, in place of the current bar armour that is fitted to vehicles such as Mastiff and Ridgback (pictured left).

More than 20 sets of TARIAN have been ordered and are in use on operations in Afghanistan, with half of them fitted to the Heavy Equipment Transporters. The armour has been developed with Dorset-based AMSAFE in Bridport and will mean the weight saved on armour can be applied elsewhere on the vehicle.

DVD also sees the unveiling of the Wolfhound, Husky and Coyote (right) Tactical Support Vehicles (TSV), the first time these newly-purchased trucks have been seen in public. More than 400 of these brand new vehicles are currently being manufactured across the UK, with delivery to training units expected later this year. The new TSV fleet will be used to accompany frontline patrols and carry essential combat supplies such as water and ammunition.

The equipment show also saw a taste of frontline action as members of the 1st Battalion The Rifles and 29 Commando Regiment RA simulated a battle group in action on the frontline. They were fully equipped with personal body armour, rifles and the new Husky and Ridgback vehicles and even called in air support from Apache and Merlin helicopters.

Both units have recently returned from frontline operations, with 1st Battalion the Rifles helping to mentor the Afghan National Army and 29 Cdo Regiment RA based at Musa Qala.

DVD is an equipment showcase which highlights the importance of diverse areas such as fuel delivery, clothing, food and vehicles that have been bought or upgraded under the Urgent Operational Requirement programme.

The TARIAN armour system is the result of a significant amount of research and development between DSTL and industry to AMSAFE in Bridport, Dorset. The system defeats the same threats as the existing Bar Armour, but at a much reduced weight which allows improvements to the vehicle’s protection elsewhere. Testing has shown that TARIAN is very robust and more than capable of withstanding battlefield wear and tear whilst allowing considerable weight savings and functioning as intended. If it does get damaged it is very easy to replace.

Husky (left), a medium armoured support vehicle, is manufactured by Navistar Defence, with Malvern based company Dytechna carrying out the integration work will form the main bulk of the TSVs and will carry out roles where heavy vehicles, like Mastiff, cannot be used. 

The other 2 TSV categories are: Heavy – Wolfhound, based on a Cougar 6×6 flatbed, manufactured and integrated through the Integrated Survivability Technologies Joint Venture between US company Force Protection Industries Inc and Coventry based NP Aerospace,  will support and re-supply our Mastiffs in the highest threat areas; Light – Coyote, based on a 6×6 derivative of the Jackal designed by Supacat Ltd and manufactured by Plymouth based Babcock Marine, will support our go-anywhere, high-mobility Jackals across the harsh terrain in Afghanistan.

RAF Contribution in Iraq is Praised by US General

The outstanding contribution made by the men and women of the Royal Air Force on Operation TELIC, and over the past 19 years in the Gulf region, has been formally recognised by the commander of US forces in Iraq.

General Raymond Odierno, the most senior military chief in Baghdad, has written to Britain’s Secretary of State for Defence, Bob Ainsworth MP, to express his “sincere gratitude” for the RAF’s commitment to the region since 1990, including its role since 2003 as part of Multi-National Force – Iraq.

The letter, which arrived on the Defence Secretary’s desk this week, highlights progress achieved by the Coalition in Iraq and pays tribute to the RAF’s contribution to this, praising the Service as living up to the “tradition of excellence” of the whole UK Armed Forces.

The General’s words also recognise the human cost of the operation, expressing condolences for the 22 RAF personnel killed in action during Operation TELIC.

In his letter General Odierno tells the Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth: “Your airmen have played a key role in providing the full spectrum of airpower’s capabilities to our evolving operations in Iraq. The RAF was an integral part of Coalition operations in 1990 and 1991 in Operation GRANBY, and then flew 300,000 missions over the following 12 years as we contained the Baathist regime.”

“In 2003, RAF airmen flew more than 2,500 sorties against ground targets making them an integral partner in our Coalition victory against Saddam Hussein. Since then they have been involved in every aspect of our operations, from close air support logistics and ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] to early warning.”

“Each contingent has built upon the tradition of excellence that has been the hallmark of your military’s performance since the Royal Air Force began operations in this theatre 19 years ago.”

General Odierno goes on to suggest that, as both the UK and US move towards a new type of relationship with Iraq, the British public can take pride in the “skill and distinction” demonstrated by its servicemen and women who served there.

Reacting to the letter, Mr Ainsworth said: “The men and women of the Royal Air Force have made an outstanding contribution as a force for good in Iraq over many years, earning the respect of our Coalition partners and of the Iraqi people. Their commitment and hard work under challenging and often dangerous conditions has been in the finest traditions of the Service, and they should be very proud of all they have achieved.”

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, said: “I very much welcome General Odierno’s recognition of the RAF’s contribution in Iraq over the past 19 years. He rightly highlights the scale, variety and significance of the capabilities delivered by the Service and the contribution that air power has made to the success of the campaign. None of this would have been possible without the professionalism, commitment and determination of our servicemen and women and they can all be justifiably proud of what has been achieved over the past 19 years.”

Saudi Typhoons Roll Out

The Roll Out Ceremony for the first two Typhoon aircraft constructed for the Royal Saudi Air Force was held at BAE Systems’ Warton site at the end of last week.
 
The Ceremony, which was attended by the Saudi Assistant Minister of Defence and Aviation, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, representing the Saudi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Aviation, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, and the Minister for the Armed Forces, Bill Rammell, representing the Secretary of State for Defence, included a fly past by one of the RSAF Typhoons.
 
This represents another significant stage in the progress of the Salam Project, which covers the supply of 72 Typhoon aircraft to the Royal Saudi Air Force in accordance with the Understanding Document signed by both Governments. The project also relieves the MOD of the huge order it placed for the expensive aircraft by siphoning off some of the UK order for sale to the Saudis.
 
The Governments of Saudi Arabia and the UK originally signed a formal understanding in 1985 for the supply of Tornado IDS, Tornado ADV, Hawk and PC-9 aircraft, together with associated support services, equipment, weapons, ammunition and electronic warfare systems; the aircraft have all since been delivered. This was the biggest ever UK defence export order.
 
The two governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 1986 elaborating the arrangements put in place the previous year. This formalised the role of British Aerospace (BAe) (as it was called at the time) as the main contractor for the whole programme, and established a UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) Project Office then within the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) to coordinate the activities of UK MOD in support of the programme, and to monitor the contracted activities of BAe.  The two governments signed the “New Buy Tornado Agreement” for the supply of additional Tornado IDS aircraft in 1993.
 
On 21 December 2005 the then Secretary of State for Defence, Dr John Reid, signed an Understanding Document which was intended to establish a greater partnership in modernising the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces and develop close service-to-service contacts, especially through joint training and exercises. Under the terms of the document it was agreed that Typhoon aircraft would replace Tornado ADV aircraft and others currently in service with the Royal Saudi Air Force. BAE Systems would also invest in local Saudi companies, develop an industrial technology plan, and provide suitable training for thousands of Saudi nationals providing through life support for key in-service equipments.
 
On 17 September 2007, the Governments of Saudi Arabia and the UK announced that agreement had been reached on the sale of 72 Typhoon aircraft. This new defence cooperation programme, which has been designated the Salam Project, will eventually be supported by substantial logistical and training packages. The final details of these support packages are still subject to further discussion between the Governments, but limited aircrew and technician training has already started in the UK in preparation for the delivery of the first Typhoon aircraft to Saudi Arabia later this summer. The Roll Out Ceremony marks the beginning of the delivery stage of the Salam Project.
 
The 1986 MOU requires the UK Government to ensure that all equipment, spares, training and technical work supplied by the main contractor (BAE Systems) are in accordance with Saudi requirements. This requirement will continue for the Salam Project. BAE Systems’ performance in meeting requirements is monitored by the MoD’s Director General Saudi Armed Forces Project (DGSAP) and his staff, based in London and Saudi Arabia.

The sale of these aircraft helps to cement the close links between the RSAF and the RAF and maintains a strong UK link to one of the most wealthy and powerful Middle Eastern states. By relieving the UK of some of the aircraft the MOD ordered in very different times it also helps the UK taxpayer and supports jobs in British defence manufacturers.

Notwithstanding the poor human rights record of Saudi Arabia, this order is very much in the UK’s national interest and there is no doubt that were the UK to decline to sell Typhoons to Saudi, the US and French would be in there like a shot.

You can see more pictures of the Saudi Typhoons here.