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Ministry of Defence News
Oxford Research Group report – 9/11 10 yrs on
9/11 and the Paths not Taken – New Report Offers Fresh Appraisal on the Eve of the Ten-year Anniversary of the Attacks
London, 6 September 2011. The ten-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks presents a crucial opportunity to reflect on the catastrophic mistakes of the last decade of the ‘war on terror’, argues a new report from the respected British think tank, Oxford Research Group.
The report, A War Gone Badly Wrong – The War on Terror Ten Years On, assesses the consequences of the response from the United States and its coalition partners. It questions whether the response was either appropriate or wise and whether the results so far have been counterproductive – and may even indicate the need for an entirely new security paradigm.
Credit Source & Further reading: ORG
Whitehall blamed for online blunders
The MoD, Department of Health and Department for Communities have been named by the Daily Telegrapgh for publishing details online that should have been kept secret.
The full story can be found at : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13111781
MOD Invests in Nano Unmanned Air Systems
Falcon 8 from Ascending Technologies
The MoD has put out a public tender notice for a contract worth up to £20m for the supply of up to 100 Nano unmanned air systems, to be ready by the autumn.
The expenditure has been authorised as the government announces deep cuts to the RAF and other services – a coincidence that will underline the military‘s growing reliance on robot technology. Several years ago the US defence department set itself the target of having a third of its fighting strength made up of unmanned vehicles by 2015.
The RAF is already using Predator drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), armed with Hellfire missiles and Paveway bombs, in Afghanistan. The Royal Artillery is also launching the smaller Desert Hawk spotter drones, weighting 3.5kg each, in close support of ground troops in Helmand province.
The use of tiny UAVs – compared by one defence source to “toys in Hamleys” – represents a significant expansion of military resources into new areas of combat technology.
Last month a US defence contractor, AeroVironment Unmanned Aircraft Systems, exhibited its Nano hummingbird spy drone. Remotely controlled by a ground operator, it weighs only 19gm and resembles a hovering bird. The Nano unmanned air system (NUAS) sought by the MoD is required to be slightly larger.
The tender notice for the contract says: “The MoD may have an urgent operational requirement for deployable NUAS.” The drones should be available “off the shelf”, powered by a rotary wing, weigh less than 1.7kg,and able to operate in “typical conditions found in Afghanistan and the UK”
Source : Slasdot.org
http://news.slashdot.org/story/11/03/03/0055246/UK-MOD-To-Spend-20-Million-On-Toy-Size-Spy-Drones
Jack Straw tells Chilcott Inquiry of rejection of UK Forces Invasion of Iraq
BRITISH troops did not need to go into traq, Jack Straw told the Chilcot inquiry yesterday.
On the last day of the public inquiry into the war, the former foreign secre¬tary said he told Tony Blair that British troops could stay out of the conflict.
Mr Straw said a ‘perfectly straightfor¬ward alternative’ to war was to help with any post-war effort along with the Spanish and Italian forces.
He repeatedly warned Mr Blair that a policy of regime change would be `palpably illegal’.
`I made that point in quite categorical terms to the prime minister on more than one occasion,’ Mr Straw said.
`I came at this issue from a different perspective to the prime minister. How¬ever, I ended up at the same point as the prime minister — let me make that clear — and backed the position that he and the cabinet and the House of Commons made to take military action,’
He ended by saying: ‘I want to express my deep sorrow for the loss of life in this conflict — notwithstanding the fact that I also happen to believe the military action we took was justified.’ The inquiry, launched in July 30, 2009, has twice heard evidence from Mr Blair and a host of military leaders. Sir John Chilcot said he would be taking months to complete his report.
Source : Fred Attewell (Metro Newspaper 03/02/2011)
Parliamentary meeting Is it time to scrap Trident?
Speakers:
Cathy Jamieson, Labour MPTessa Munt, Lib Dem MP
Caroline Lucas, Green MP
Professor John Foster, author of Trident, jobs and the UK economy
6pm, Monday 18th October
Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, Westminster [map]
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LATEST UPDATE
With news that the Strategic Defence and Security Review will culminate in a new national security strategy to be announced on Monday 18th October, and the resulting defence spending cuts to be announced the following day, CND’s parliamentary public meeting on Trident replacement – which was excluded from the review – could not take place at a more important time.
The F-35 Lightning II – The Future of Flight
MOD COMPUTER GAMES TO SAVE LIVES
Soldiers in the Royal Logistic Corps are to get a boost to their driving skills thanks to a hi-tech virtual training computer package, which will test their ability to cope under fire.
Under a contract potentially worth some £2M the Joint Combat Operation Virtual Environment (JCOVE) uses the commercial ‘serious game’ application called Virtual Battlespace and will enable the British Armed Forces to practice Tactics Techniques and Procedures for road convoy operations in a realistic virtual environment. The package includes a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) communication system to allow trainees to speak to each other through headsets as per operations, steering wheel and pedal sets for vehicle control and classroom control software to allow the instructors to maximise training effectiveness.
Soldiers learn how to operate under fire and how to react under a variety of events and scenarios including being under fire, road side bombs and ambush.
(c) MOD/COI – COI ref 164956P
QINETIQ SECURES NAVAL DEAL
A multi-million pound deal between the Ministry of Defence and UK research establishment QinetiQ has secured the support and expertise needed to ensure the continued operation of the current submarine fleet and the development of technology for future generations it was confirmed today, Wednesday 3 September 2008.
In the 15-year contract, worth £200million, the Maritime Strategic Capabilities Agreement (MSCA) will secure the MOD’s access to maritime research facilities, including the Ocean Basin at Haslar, a Ship Towing Tank and Shock Laboratory Machines, and to a range of experts in submarine hydrodynamics, structure and survivability, and maritime life
The Ocean Basin, a 120 x 60 by 5.5 metre deep fresh water testing tank, including a rotating arm and wavemakers, is used to test autonomous models of ships and underwater vehicles [Picture: MOD]
BAE AND MOD SIGN AMMUNITION AGREEMENT
A new £2 billion 15-year partnering agreement between the MOD and BAE Systems Land Systems Munitions guaranteeing the future supply of the Armed Forces’ small arms and medium calibre ammunition was signed today.
The new agreement with BAE Systems LSM covers around 80 per cent of the munitions used by the Armed Forces on operations and training and includes small arms and medium-calibre ammunition, mortar bombs, tank, artillery and naval gun shells but not complex weapons such as guided missiles.
MOD UNVEILS ITS TECHNOLOGY COMPETITION AT SALISBURY PLAIN
Mini-vehicles poised for battle:Flying saucers, buggies and miniature helicopters descend on Salisbury plain for MoD competition
A range of mini-vehicles that could help give UK forces the battle-winning edge on operations are set to take part in the final of a major MoD science and technology competition.
The "Grand Challenge", launched by the MoD in 2006, asked teams from across the UK to devise highly autonomous vehicles capable of identifying threats that are being encountered by UK troops on overseas operations. These include marksmen, vehicles mounted with heavy weapons, roadside bombs and armed militia.
NEW WILTSHIRE SUPER-SITE – CORSHAM09
Plans for a major new defence centre in North Wiltshire have been given the green light today by Defence Minister Derek Twigg. The project, known as ‘Corsham09′, will accommodate 2,200 Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) personnel and their industry partners on the Basil Hill site in Corsham.
MILITARY HONOURS LIST
A total of 136 members of the Armed Forces and one MOD civilian have received honours and awards in the Operational Honours List dated today, 25 July 2008.
The full list, which recognises service on operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, former Yugoslavia and national operations for the period 31 October 2007 to 31 March 2008, is below:
ARMY NOW 400TH “DIVERSITY CHAMPION” FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS
The Army has become the 400th member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme for employers it was announced today, Monday 14 July 2008. The Army will now work with Stonewall to promote good working conditions for all existing and potential employees and to ensure equal treatment for those who are lesbian, gay and bisexual.
General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff, said:
"I am delighted that the Army has become a member of Stonewall’s Workplace Programme. One of the Army’s six Core Values is ‘Respect for Others’ and it is therefore our absolute duty to treat our fellow soldiers as we would wish to be treated ourselves.
NEW HOMES TO BE BUILT AT BRIZE NORTON
Demolition has begun at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire signalling the end of the road for some of the worst military family homes in the UK.
The demolition work is paving the way for the construction of brand new homes for the officers and airmen who will operate and support the next generation of RAF transport and air-to-air refuelling aircraft.
Ministry of Defence contractors began work yesterday, Monday 14 July 2008, pulling down flats on Upwood Drive; over the next six months they will also be demolishing blocks in and around Northwood Crescent and Stanmore Crescent. In all around 70 flats will be demolished in 2008. The flats were built in the mid-1960s, and are now assessed to have reached the end of their useful life.
NEW SUPPORT TO SEAWOLF
Support for the Seawolf air defence missile system, which equips Royal Navy Type 22 and Type 23 frigates, is to be radically revamped under contracts worth around £300M, Minister for Defence Equipment Support Baroness Ann Taylor announced today.
£3bn DEAL FOR FUTURE AICRAFT CARRIERS
The MoD today signed contracts with industry to build the two future aircraft carriers. The contracts, worth in the region of £3 billion, were signed with the newly-formed UK maritime Joint Venture, BVT Surface Fleet, and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance onboard HMS Ark Royal, one of the Royal Navy’s existing aircraft carriers and currently the Fleet Flagship.
FROM FICTION TO FRONTLINE
Holographic quantum technology and acoustic sniper sensors may sound like the stuff of science fiction films – but they are actually new defence technologies which could soon be destined for the battlefield.
They were just a few of the gadgets and technologies on show at the Future Soldier event, held today at London’s National Army Museum to coincide with National Science and Engineering Week (7-16 March).
The event demonstrated how UK defence firms and the Ministry of Defence are drawing on science and engineering to develop cutting edge equipment for the Armed Forces. Some technologies are already providing troops with a battle-winning edge on operations; others will need further development and some may be overtaken by new technologies before they make it to the field.
The event was opened by Baroness Ann Taylor, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, who said:
"All around us we can see how advances in science, engineering and technology affect our everyday lives. Defence is no exception. Members of the Armed Forces are increasingly interacting with ever more sophisticated technology as part of their job.
"There is already a huge difference between the personal equipment a British infantryman used in Kosovo back in 1999 and what they are using now in Afghanistan. We have come a long way – largely because we are working closely with the defence industry to exploit new technologies to protect and empower our people on the frontline. The threats they face are continually evolving and we have to continue to meet the challenge of keeping one step ahead."
The Future Soldier event is one of a number of events being held by the UK defence sector to mark National Science and Engineering Week.
CRUISE MISSILE OPERATIONAL
The latest version of the Royal Navy’s Tomahawk land attack missile (TLAM) has been declared operational – three months earlier than planned.
Used to arm submarines, the new Tomahawk Block IV missile is considerably more capable than its predecessors. It has a significantly reduced response time and can fly further, striking land targets from the sea up to one thousand miles away with even greater precision. They are able to re-target or safely abort in flight and can relay images en route. The missile was first successfully test fired from a Royal Navy submarine last June.
Source : MoD/GNN
MoD ANNOUNCES BAHA MOUSA PUBLIC INQUIRY
The MOD announced today that a Public Inquiry will be held into the death of Baha Mousa, who died in British custody in September 2003.
The Defence Secretary, Des Browne, said:
"A Public Inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa is the right thing to do. It will reassure the public that we are leaving no stone unturned in investigating his tragic death. The Army has nothing to hide in this respect and is keen to learn all the lessons it can from this terrible incident."
Source : MoD/GNN
MOD: MINISTER VISITS UK TROOPS IN SIERRA LEONE
Armed Forces Minister, Bob Ainsworth, visited Sierra Leone this week where he saw first hand the progress that has been made by the UK-led International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT) in assisting the transformation of the country’s armed forces.
Visitors
