Alert

NP Aerospace, the global vehicle integrator and armour manufacturer, has today announced the acquisition of certain assets of Jankel Armouring Limited – in administration.

Jankel Armouring Limited entered administration on 27 February 2024 and Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Administrators. NP Aerospace has now acquired assets which include Jankel Armouring Limited’s intellectual property, patents and inventory and the right to transfer, assign and/or novate existing contracts. The acquisition will allow NP Aerospace to integrate a globally proven and successful vehicle product and support line into their already strong portfolio, which will now include Jankel Armouring Limited’s tactical vehicles, civilian armoured vehicles (CAVs), armour technologies, seating systems and through life support services.

Having received UK National Security and Investment Act (NSIA) approval, NP Aerospace can formally engage with key customers, including the Belgian MoD (BeMOD) and UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) regarding the delivery of former Jankel Armouring Limited contracts. With an existing pedigree of successful defence vehicle production, integration and support activities, NP Aerospace is ideally positioned to deliver on customer requirements, bringing production programs through to successful conclusion, onshore in the UK.

NP Aerospace has been successful in securing talent from the original Jankel Armouring Limited staff including pivotal engineers and critical executives with the required knowledge of the acquired assets. In addition, it is expected that the acquisition will create and/or sustain around 60-70 skilled jobs. The acquisition does not include any aspect of, or formal relationship with the US based Jankel business, including Jankel Tactical Systems and does not include any liability to former creditors, which sits in the hands of the joint administrators, Alvarez and Marsal.

James Kempston, NP Aerospace CEO, commented: “The announcement of the acquisition of Jankel Armouring Limited’s assets marks a significant phase of growth for the company, creating additional value for customers through new business synergies.” He added: “Our immediate priority is to push forward with existing customer contracts and deliver successful programmes to a global customer base. Beyond that, this announcement is good news for the defence industry, enabling continuation of capability, products and supply, whilst enhancing a very strong global defence export line, under the NP Aerospace brand”.

Mike Denny, Joint Administrator, Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP, commented: “The completion of the sale of certain assets of Jankel Armouring Limited to NP Aerospace will provide continuity to its customer base and create new opportunities for some of its skilled workforce. We are confident that the business will thrive under the ownership of NP Aerospace”.

BATTLESPACE Comment: This is good news for the UK defence and police light vehicle industry as it preserves the considerable expertise in armouring and conversions built up by Andrew Jankel and his team over may years. It also sees NP emerging as a major force in the UK and International defence vehicle segment.

30 May 24. Babcock International Group (Babcock), the defence company and Hobson Industries, the engineering company have signed an agreement to work together with the aim to resolve obsolescence in military Land Rovers.  Babcock provide the through-life support and management for 60 percent of the British Army’s vehicles with a focus on providing innovative solutions to long standing supply chain challenges which routinely impact the availability of British Army vehicles such as the Land Rover Wolf platform.

Hobson Industries is an innovative and highly technical engineering business that specialise in the through life support of the Land Rover Defender (Wolf) platform. This partnership draws upon the combined experience of Babcock’s maintenance & repair capabilities, with Hobson’s subject matter expertise on the Wolf platform.

With an initial focus on the Land Rover Wolf, the partnership will bring forward a wide range of modern technical solutions in the areas of design, manufacture, remanufacturing and repair.  This will increase the availability of assets for the front-line commands, increase reliability and enable the most cost-effective solution for the British Army.

The suite of technical and digital solutions now available through this partnership provide an unprecedented opportunity to reverse the trend of obsolescence impacting the defence fleet.Jon Morley, Director of Material Availability Services at Babcock, said: “Finding modern, sustainable solutions to some long-standing challenges will enhance the operational capability of the British Army.  Hobson Industries are subject matter experts and we’re delighted to be formalising our relationship with them.”

Peter Hobson, Managing Director at Hobson Industries said, “This framework agreement builds on a long-term association of mutual respect, joint skills and capabilities and enables Hobson Industries and Babcock to work more closely together to achieve a common goal to deliver excellence of service and capabilities to UK Armed Forces.”

BATTLESPACE Comment: The availability of the approximately 3600 Land Rover Wolf vehicles has long been a problem for the MoD due to spares availability and obsolescence. It is believed that there are as many as several thousand vehicles off the road. This will mean that the fleet will be asset managed throughout. Hobson Industries has had an Asset Managed system in place for many years to supply renewed parts which has solved some of the issues. However, key parts such as chassis remain difficult to source. This agreement will solve these critical supply issues and bring vehicles left in store back into service. However, this announcement also signals the MoD’s intention to keep the Land Rover Wolf in service beyond 2030 and puts a question mark over the In Service Date (ISD) for the GSUPS Wolf Replacement Programme which appears stalled after the initial MoD brief in March 2023. This may be due to the clash of the UK’s Electric Vehicle strategy requiring manufacturers to provide 30% of their production to be electric. The introduction of electric vehicles to the MoD’s fleet is a long way off due to the lack of mobile battlefield charging points and general electrification policy. The shift appears to be going to a hydrogen-based vehicle solution where manufacturers such as INEOS are producing vehicles. Babcock has provided the MoD with a fleet-wide solution for GSUPS with its Toyota-based 4×4 and 6×6 solution using naturally aspirated engines. Other contenders include Mercedes Benz ‘G’ Wagen and the Rheinmetall Mercedes Caracal. This contract may also cause a delay in the forthcoming Land Rover parts contract.

 

23 Apr 24. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Wednesday to deepen the UK’s defence and security cooperation.

• Prime Minister and Chancellor Scholz to hold talks in Berlin on security, trade and shared issues like illegal migration
• UK and Germany to launch new joint industrial programme to develop artillery systems
• German companies announce investments into the UK of more than £8on

Rishi Sunak will meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin today [Wednesday] to deepen our defence and security cooperation.

As an initial step, the UK and Germany will announce plans for a joint endeavour to develop Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm Wheeled Artillery Systems (RCH 155), which will be fitted to Boxer vehicles.

The joint programme is expected to create hundreds of British and German jobs, while equipping our armed forces with battle-winning capabilities for future ground warfare.

It follows the Prime Minister’s visit to Poland on Tuesday, here he held talks with Prime Minister Tusk and the Nato Secretary-General and announced a historic uplift in UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The UK and Germany are European powerhouses. Together, we are stronger – whether that is defending against Russian aggression or driving economic growth and technological advance. Today we are opening a new chapter in our relationship, one that will make us safer and more prosperous. At this dangerous moment for the world, the UK and Germany are standing side by side to preserve security and prosperity at home and across our continent.”

The leaders are also expected to discuss collaboration on energy and renewables, including on the export of green hydrogen from the UK and Germany, and joint efforts to tackle organised immigration crime.

The UK and Germany are the two largest economies in Europe and Germany is our largest trading partner on the continent, with bilateral trade worth £147.7bn last year.

The Prime Minister will meet leading businesses in Berlin to drive further economic cooperation, as German firms announce £8bn worth of new investment today into the UK.

German energy company RWE have confirmed their intention to invest more than €8bn (£6.9bn) in the UK by the end of this decade, and E.ON energy will be investing £1bn in the UK over the next 5 years to help drive the green energy transition.

RWE CEO Dr Markus Krebber said: “The UK has been one of RWE’s most important core markets for decades. We are committed to continuing to contribute to the UK’s ambitious renewable energy and decarbonisation targets. We intend to invest a further €8bn in the UK by the end of this decade into commercially viable projects.”

Uniper, another leading German energy company, has also committed to invest a further €8bn in green transformation projects in its main markets in Germany and the UK through 2030, including in gas-fired power plants, solar and wind parks, energy storage systems, and hydrogen production units. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

BATTLESPACE Comment: Firstly, this is a first in that it combines a defence announcement with a Green initiative! However, it is now clear why the Hanwha-led Team Thunder has been meeting resistance of late to its proposal to sell K9A1 tracked howitzers to the UK. Clearly the Boxer RCH155 argument has won over the Prime Minister. This agreement will provide extra funds to develop the RCH155 to a production variant built in the UK. However, wheeled 155 systems have been found wanting in the mud and snow of Ukraine, as well as limitations to upgrade to 56 calibre. The next question is funding, at present there is no funding for the RCH155 variant as it is not on the Boxer OCCAR list of Boxer variants, we await with interest  full details of this joint endeavour and the proposed funding line and UK content for the MFP Requirement. With the existing Boxer Programme already running late, it will be some time before we see an RCH 155 in the UK artillery inventory.  Will BAE provide the ammunition , or will part of the deal be ammunition supplied by Rheinmetall in Germany? Hanwha should set out a detailed presentation to provide in-country build and support for K9A1 and any future variants together with the suite of advanced ammunition developed by Hanwha in RoK transfered to the UK.

UK set to increase defence spending to 2.5% by 2030

23 Apr 24. Sunak announces ‘turning point’ in European security as UK set to increase defence spending to 2.5% by 2030.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the UK will increase defence spending to 2.5% by 2030.
• On a visit to Poland, the Prime Minister launches plan to steadily increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade – reaching £87bn a year in 2030.
• Rishi Sunak announces ‘biggest strengthening of our national defence in a generation’ to meet the challenge of an increasingly dangerous world.
• Defence to receive an additional £75bn over six years, ensuring the UK remains by far the second largest defence spender in NATO after the US.
• Additional funding will be used to put the UK’s defence industry on a war footing, deliver cutting-edge technology and back Ukraine against Russia.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today [Tuesday April 23] has announced the biggest strengthening of the UK’s national defence in a generation, with a fully funded plan to grow the defence budget to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.
Delivering a speech alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Poland, a country at the vanguard of the continent’s defence, the Prime Minister said we are at a turning point in European security and urged allies to step up.
An axis of autocratic states like Russia, Iran and China are increasingly working together to undermine democracies and reshape the world order. They are also investing heavily in their own militaries and in cyber capabilities and in low-cost technology, like the Shahed attack drones Iran fired towards Israel last weekend.

This poses a direct threat to the lives and livelihoods of people in the UK, as well as across Europe and the wider world. The Government has already committed record investment in defence and the UK armed forces are world-leading – but the Prime Minister has said that we must take further action now to deter these growing threats.

With today’s announcement, UK defence spending will increase immediately and then rise steadily to reach £87bn at the end the decade – hitting 2.5% of GDP by 2030.

The Prime Minister has set out three areas of focus for our bolstered defence budget:
• Firing up the UK defence industrial base: Investing at least an additional £10bn over the next decade on munitions production, delivering high-quality jobs and investment across the UK and ensuring we have rapid production capacity and stockpiles of next-generation munitions.
• Modernising our Armed Forces: Radically reforming defence procurement and creating a new Defence Innovation Agency to ensure the UK is at the cutting edge of modern warfare technology, with at least 5% of the defence budget to be committed to R&D.
• Backing Ukraine’s defence: Ukraine’s security is our security. As part of this plan, the Government will commit an additional £500m this year for the ammunition, air defence and drones Ukraine needs; the largest-ever single delivery of military equipment to Ukraine’s frontlines; and a cast-iron commitment to maintain existing levels of support to Ukraine for as long as it Is needed.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “In a world that is the most dangerous it has been since the end of the Cold War, we cannot be complacent. As our adversaries align, we must do more to defend our country, our interests, and our values. That is why today I have announced the biggest strengthening of our national defence for a generation. We will increase defence spending to a new baseline of 2.5% of GDP by 2030 – a plan that delivers an additional £75bn for defence by the end of the decade and secures our place as by far the largest defence power in Europe.
“Today is a turning point for European security and a landmark moment in the defence of the United Kingdom. It is a generational investment in British security and British prosperity, which makes us safer at home and stronger abroad.”
This is a fully-funded plan to deliver the biggest transformation of our national defence since the Cold War, moving from an aspiration to spend 2.5% by an unspecified date to a costed commitment to do so in 2030.
Defence spending will increase immediately and rise linearly – with a further £500m for Ukraine this year and overall increase of £3bn in the next financial year. Today’s announcement will see an additional £75bn for defence over the next six years, with defence spending expected to reach £87bn a year in 2030.

This sets a new standard for other major European NATO economies to follow. If all NATO countries committed at least 2.5% of their GDP to defence, our collective budget would increase by more than £140 bn.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said: “It speaks to Britain’s global role that, with an improving economy, we are able to make this commitment to peace and security in Europe. It also sends the clearest possible message to Putin that as other NATO European countries match this commitment, which they will, he will never be able to outspend countries that believe in freedom and democracy.”

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “As I argued in my Lancaster House speech earlier this year, we are living in a much more dangerous world. Between Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Iran and its proxies seeking to escalate deadly conflict, and China flexing its muscles, there can be no doubt that the era of the peace dividend is clearly over. The mounting threats we face mean we must invest in defence if we are to continue to defend our values, freedoms and prosperity. Today’s announcement marks the single greatest strengthening of our defence since the Cold War, which will support jobs, boost growth, and strengthen our incredible Armed Forces as a modern fighting force.”

The war in Ukraine has taught us that battlefield success is dependent on the ability to surge defence production and move to ‘always on’ production to replenish key equipment. We will therefore invest a further £10 bn over the next ten years, most of which will be spent with British industry, to grow our domestic munitions production pipeline and increase stockpiles, setting a clear demand signal for industry through long term multi-year contracts. This represents nearly a doubling of our current spending on munitions production.
The investment will focus on key high-tech capabilities, including air defence missiles and anti-armour munitions, in addition to continued investment in UK-built 155mm artillery ammunition. Defence already supported more than 400,000 jobs in 2021/22 – the equivalent of 1 in every 70 UK jobs – but today’s announcement will support new high-quality jobs and economic growth across all parts of the UK.

Reforms set out by the Prime Minister today will also ensure we are investing in the right technologies and getting more for taxpayers’ money when it comes to defence.

A newly created Defence Innovation Agency will manage scaled up investment in R&D, bringing together the fragmented defence innovation landscape into a single responsible organisation. This includes R&D in new weapons systems such as Directed Energy Weapons or Hypersonic Missiles, as well as space capabilities and other emerging technologies. We will invest in areas that deliver advantage on the modern battlefield and better exploit low-cost solutions, like the inexpensive Unmanned Surface Vehicles seen in Ukraine.
The DragonFire laser weapons system, developed by the MoD in collaboration with UK industry partners, demonstrates how we can accelerate technological development into frontline advantage. Backed by £350 m in government funding, DragonFire can fire at any target visible in the air at around £10 a shot and with an accuracy equivalent to hitting a pound coin from a kilometre away – and the weapon is due to be fitted to Royal Navy ships well ahead of schedule in 2027.
We will also make defence procurement faster, smarter and more joined-up. The new Integrated Procurement Model, launched by the Ministry of Defence in February, will break down individual service silos and bring in checks and balances through a new integrated design authority. The model will see new technologies being used by the armed forces earlier in the process, rather than waiting for a ‘perfect’ product.
Additionally, the Prime Minister has announced plans today to reform the Ministry of Defence’s Head Office to operate as a fully functioning strategic headquarters – holding the front line command accountable for delivery, driving better pan-defence prioritisation and ensuring value-for-money, supported by the National Security Council. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

Sunak’s defence speech in Warsaw

23 Apr 24. Sunak’s defence speech in Warsaw.

My first duty as Prime Minister is the security of the British people.
And fulfilling that profound responsibility is only possible because of you.
Just ten days ago, I gave the order for the RAF to join an international effort…
…intercepting a barrage of Iranian missiles headed towards Israel.
Those pilots, like you, and like every generation of British service men and women before you…
…were willing to put their own safety over the line…
…for the security of others and the defence of our liberties and our values.
From your Regiment’s service in Iraq and Afghanistan…
…to your current role here in Poland, protecting NATO’s eastern flank…
…you have made those sacrifices in the service of our country.
I am truly humbled by your courage and professionalism.
And on behalf of a proud and grateful nation, let me simply say: thank you.
But I haven’t just brought you together today to express my gratitude.
I want to talk to you about how we equip you to do your duty…
…in an increasingly dangerous world.
We have entered a period of history in which competition between countries has sharpened profoundly.
An axis of authoritarian states with different values to ours…
…like Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China…
…are increasingly assertive.
The danger they pose is not new.
But what is new is that these countries – or their proxies…
…are causing more instability, more quickly, in more places at once.
And they’re increasingly acting together…
…making common cause in an attempt to reshape the world order.
Now I know there are some people who will think these are faraway problems.
But they are not.
They pose real risks to the United Kingdom’s security and prosperity.
Russia has already poisoned people on British soil with chemical weapons.
Caused energy bills to soar.
Weaponised migration.
And sent technology to Iran in exchange for weapons, like the Shaheed drones…
…that I saw myself are wreaking such devastation on Ukraine.
Iran themselves have threatened to kill and kidnap people within our borders for exercising their right to free speech.
And used proxies like the Houthis, to attack British ships in the Red Sea…
…disrupting supplies of crucial goods to our high streets.
North Korea, too, is supplying munitions and artillery to Russia…
…and their hackers have targeted British businesses and the NHS.
And Chinese state-affiliated actors have conducted malicious cyber campaigns…
…against British MPs.
China itself is engaged in a huge military modernisation programme.
Potential flashpoints in the Indo-Pacific…
…could have an impact on the global economy far larger even than Covid.
And China is increasingly working with others to try and reshape the world…
…including their so-called ‘unlimited partnership’ with Russia.
So the new assertiveness of these authoritarian states far from our shores must concern us.
Because they are increasingly acting together…
…against the fundamental values that we all hold dear…
…of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.
Now, we must not overstate the danger.
We’re not on the brink of war.
And nor do we seek it.
And people should feel reassured…
…that the UK’s armed forces are some of the most professional…
…well-trained, well-equipped, and battle-ready in the world.
And I’m incredibly proud of all they’ve achieved.
From patrolling the Arctic Circle as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force…
…to the campaign against Daesh in the deserts of Iraq and Syria.
From protecting the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea…
…to policing the skies above Eastern Europe.
And just look at the investments we’ve made in the last decade.
£40bn in the British Army…
…who proudly provide one of NATO’s strategic reserves…
…with 16,000 troops deployed to Europe this year.
The Royal Air Force, equipped with new Typhoons, Chinooks, F35s…
…with the GCAP programme delivering new fighter jets with Japan and Italy.
The Royal Navy is a carrier navy once again…
…with 22 new ships and submarines on the way…
…and the historic AUKUS partnership building the most advanced nuclear-powered subs the world has ever known.
And we’ve launched a new national endeavour to invigorate and invest more in our nuclear deterrent.
And all of this is combined with our outstanding diplomatic network…
…development expertise, law enforcement and intelligence agencies…
…and our support for allies – above all the £12bn we’ve provided to Ukraine.
So I’m proud of our record on defence.
And confident in our ability to deter our adversaries.
…and ensure the security of the United Kingdom.
But in a world that’s the most dangerous…
…it’s been since the end of the Cold War…
…we cannot – and must not – be complacent.
As Churchill said, in 1934:
“To urge the preparation of defence is not to assert the imminence of war.
On the contrary, if war were imminent…
…preparations for defence would be too late.”
I believe we must do more…
…to defend our country, our interests, and our values.
So today, I’m announcing…
…the biggest strengthening of our national defence for a generation.
We will increase defence spending to a new baseline of 2.5% of GDP, by 2030.
That starts today.
And rises steadily in each and every year.
Over the next six years, we’ll invest an additional £75bn in our defence.
And it will be fully funded with no increase in borrowing or debt.
So this is not some vague aspiration for the future.
We have a clear plan for what we’ll spend, when we’ll spend it, and how we pay for it.
A plan that makes the United Kingdom by far the largest defence power in Europe – and second largest in NATO.
Today is a landmark moment in the defence of the United Kingdom.
This is a generational investment in British security and British prosperity.
It makes us safer at home and stronger abroad.
Now we have three immediate priorities for this new investment.
First, we will put the UK’s own defence industry on a war footing.
One of the central lessons of the war in Ukraine…
…is that we need deeper stockpiles of munitions…
…and for industry to be able to replenish them more quickly.
So today, we’re giving £10bn in munitions to give industry long-term funding certainty…
…backed by long-term contracts…
…so they can produce more, be readier to surge capacity…
…and move to ‘always on’ production, when required.
From surface-to-air-missiles made in Bolton…
…to anti-tank weapons in Belfast…
…we will replenish our stockpiles…
…all while supporting British jobs right across the Union.
But it’s not just about investing more – we must invest better.
For too long, too much of our defence procurement…
…has been over-complex, over-budget, and over-time.
So we are making radical reforms to our procurement model…
…to make sure this new investment delivers value for money.
And to encourage private sector investment into defence production…
…I can also announce today that we’re going to put beyond doubt that defence investment…
…does count towards environmental, social and governance assessments.
There is nothing more ethical than defending our way of life from those who threaten it.
Now all of this will put us at the forefront of the global defence industry…
…allow us to hugely ramp up defence production…
…and give our armed forces the capability they need to keep us safe.
But as in so many areas of our lives, technology is changing the face of war.
So our second immediate priority is innovation and new technology.
We need to innovate and adapt faster than our adversaries…
…in space and cyberspace just as much as land, sea, and air.
Look at Ukraine.
Many aspects of the war would be familiar to a soldier from WWI or II
Yet others would be unimaginably different.
Like the fact that cheap, high-tech, autonomous drones could disable large parts of Russia’s Black Sea fleet.
The good news is that innovation is already one of our greatest strengths.
The UK’s own Dragonfire laser directed energy weapon…
…costs only £10 a shot…
…yet is accurate enough to hit a £1 coin from a kilometre away.
And today we’re going further.
We will increase defence R&D to at minimum to 5% of the defence budget.
Invest far more in autonomous drones.
And we will set up a new Defence Innovation Agency.
So that for the first time, decisions about defence innovation…
…will be brought together in a single, strategic agency…
…that will be freed from red tape …
…and work with the private sector on emerging new technologies.
Now third, we must support Ukraine for the long term.
Since the Cold War ended, the freedom of our continent has been based on a simple idea:
That it is for people to decide the fate of their countries, not foreign armies.
But allow Putin to win in Ukraine…
…and that principle of sovereignty would be undermined.
We would be dragged back to a world…
…where brute force, rather than the democratic will of free peoples…
…would shape borders and decide futures.
And Putin will not stop in Ukraine.
Win there, and he – and indeed others – will be emboldened.
He has the desire, if not yet the capacity, to attack other countries in Europe…
…potentially including NATO allies, who we would be bound to defend…
…just as they are bound to defend us.
The costs of failing to support Ukraine now will be far greater than the costs of repelling Putin.
Because only if he fails will he and other adversaries be deterred.
That is why the United Kingdom…
…whose history of standing up to dictators is so much part of our national consciousness…
…has come together with our allies to stand with Ukraine from the very start.
Today we will go further.
We will send Ukraine an additional half a bn pounds , hitting £3 bn of support this year.
And we’ll provide them with largest-ever package of UK military equipment.
This will include more than 400 vehicles…
…4 m rounds of ammunition…
…60 boats and offshore raiding craft…
…vital air defences…
…and long-range precision-guided Storm Shadow missiles.
And as we make our historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP…
…we’ll move past this stop-start, piecemeal way of backing Ukraine…
…so that alongside our long-term security guarantee…
…we are today providing a long-term funding guarantee…
…of at least the current level of military support to Ukraine, for every year it is needed.
That is the longest commitment any nation has provided.
And it shows that Ukraine is not alone, and Ukraine will never be alone.
A decade ago, as Russian tanks rolled into Crimea…
…and the fight against ISIL raged across the Middle East…
…NATO allies came together in Wales, and reached an historic agreement…
…to increase their defence budgets to 2% of GDP.
Back then, the UK was one of only 4 countries who did so.
Today, there are 11.
And I believe we will look back on this moment…
…as a similar turning point in European security.
Because for all that we welcome the news over the weekend…
…that the US Congress agreed a new package of aid for Ukraine…
…support that will be indispensable on the frontline…
…this is not the moment for complacency.
We cannot keep expecting America to pay any price or bear any burden…
…if we ourselves are unwilling to make greater sacrifices for our own security.
So I’m proud that the United Kingdom is increasing our defence spending to £87bn a year…
…the biggest strengthening of our national defence in a generation…
…guaranteeing our position as the second largest defence power in NATO, after the US.
All across Europe…
…countries like Poland, Germany, Norway and the Baltic nations…
…are stepping up to take greater responsibility for our own security.
And I’m confident that whether in months or years…
…others will follow, too.
And at this turning point in European security, if 2.5% becomes a new benchmark for all NATO partners to reach…
…allied defence spending would increase by over £140 bn.
That would provide a level of safety and security for the British people…
…and the peoples of all allied nations…
…that far outstrips anything we could achieve alone.
To conclude, we did not choose this moment. But it falls to us to meet it.
In a world of increasing threats, we must show our enemies that we are resolute and determined.
That their attempts to destabilise our world or redraw its borders by force will fail.
That with our friends and allies, we will be at the forefront of the defence of the free, democratic world.
And under my leadership, the United Kingdom will always stand up for our interests…
…deter our enemies, and defend our values.

(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

UK aid package to Ukraine

 

23 Apr 24. UK announces largest-ever military aid package to Ukraine on visit to Poland.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the largest-ever military aid package to Ukraine on his visit to Poland.

• PM to travel to Poland and Germany to cement security, trade and diplomatic ties with key European allies
• He is expected to announce a £500m boost for Ukraine and largest-ever provision of vital munitions, including some 400 vehicles, 1,600 munitions and 4 m rounds of ammunition
• PM to discuss the threat from Russia and UK efforts to support European security with Prime Minister Tusk and the Nato Secretary-General in Warsaw

The Prime Minister travelled to Poland today [Tuesday 23 April] to announce a massive uplift in military support for Ukraine, including £500m in additional military funding and our largest-ever delivery of vital equipment.

He wmet Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to discuss deepening UK-Poland relations, and the leaders will hold talks with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Warsaw on European security and support to Ukraine. The Prime Minister will then travel on to Germany to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

Ukraine is facing an existential threat as Russia continues its barbaric invasion, risking the security and stability of all of Europe.

The £500m additional funding announced today – which takes us to £3bn in UK military aid for Ukraine this financial year – will be used to rapidly deliver urgently-needed ammunition, air defence, drones and engineering support. The drones will be procured in the UK and the funds will support a scale-up in domestic defence supply chains.

The Ministry of Defence will also send our largest-ever single package of equipment from the UK, designed to help push back the Russian invasion on land, sea and air. It includes:

• 60 boats including offshore raiding craft, rigid raiding craft and dive boats as well as maritime guns
• More than 1,600 strike and air defence missiles, as well as additional Storm Shadow long-range precision-guided missiles.
• More than 400 vehicles, including 160 protected mobility ‘Husky’ vehicles, 162 armoured vehicles and 78 all-terrain vehicles.
• Nearly 4m rounds of small arms ammunition.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Defending Ukraine against Russia’s brutal ambitions is vital for our security and for all of Europe. If Putin is allowed to succeed in this war of aggression, he will not stop at the Polish border. I am in Warsaw today to deepen ties with our Polish partners and commit critical new military support for Ukraine’s defence.  Ukraine’s armed forces continue to fight bravely, but they need our support – and they need it now. Today’s package will help ensure Ukraine has what they need to take the fight to Russia. The United Kingdom will always play its part at the forefront of European security, defending our national interest and standing by our Nato allies.”

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This record package of military aid will give President Zelenskyy and his brave nation more of the kit they need to kick Putin out and restore peace and stability in Europe. The UK was the first to provide NLAW missiles, the first to give modern tanks and the first to send long-range missiles. Now, we are going even further. We will never let the world forget the existential battle Ukraine is fighting, and with our enduring support, they will win.”

In his first in-person meeting with new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister will also seek to deepen UK-Poland ties across a range of issues.

Building on existing strong defence and security cooperation, he will offer to deploy an RAF Typhoon Squadron to carry out Nato Air Policing over Poland next year.

To further boost trade and support UK companies looking to invest in Poland, the Prime Minister will also announce today an intention to triple UK Export Finance funding available for Poland from £5 bn to £15 bn – our most generous offer to a partner country to date.

Bilateral trade between the UK and Poland has doubled in the last decade to reach £30.6 bn, with 45 m bottles of Scotch whisky bought in Poland last year and UK firms bidding for £5 bn worth of Polish opportunities across energy, defence, healthcare, and infrastructure.

(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

14 Apr 24. CNN reported that Iran warns its response will be “stronger and more resolute” if Israel retaliates following latest strikes.

Iran has warned that it will respond with more force if Israel retaliates over this weekend’s strikes, which Tehran said were themselves a reply to an Israeli attack earlier this month on its embassy complex in Syria’s capital Damascus.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defense when required,” Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said in a statement.

Should the Israeli regime commit any military aggression again, Iran’s response will assuredly and decisively be stronger and more resolute,” Ambassador Iravani added.

Citing self-defense against repeated Israeli military aggressions, Iravani said the strikes were specifically in retaliation to an Israeli attack on April 1 against what Iran says were diplomatic facilities in Damascus.

Iran claims the attack violated international law and led to the death of seven Iranian military advisors, including key commanders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The statement also criticizes the United Nations Security Council for “failing to uphold international peace,” allowing Israel to “breach” established international norms and “escalate” regional tensions.

Additional context: Israel has carried out numerous strikes on Iran-backed targets in Syria, often targeting weapons shipments allegedly intended for Hezbollah, a powerful Iranian proxy in Lebanon.

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the April 1 attack which destroyed an Iranian consulate building in the capital Damascus, including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top Revolutionary Guards commander.

However an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told CNN that their intelligence showed the building was not a consulate and was instead “a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building.”

 

China expresses ‘deep concern’, calls for ceasefire

 

14 Apr 24. China has expressed “deep concern” over the “current escalation” following Iran’s attack on Israel, according to a spokesperson for its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, adding that it is a “spillover of the Gaza conflict” and a ceasefire should be implemented without delay.

In a statement, China called “on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent further escalations.”

“The ongoing situation is the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict,” the spokesperson said, adding that a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas should be implemented without any more delay.

Beijing did not name or condemn Hamas in the wake of the initial October 7 attacks. Since then, it has condemned the war and been a vocal proponent of an immediate ceasefire and the implementation of a “two-state” solution.

Last month, Chinese diplomat Wang Kejian met Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar, the first meeting between a Chinese and Hamas official publicly acknowledged by Beijing since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.

Wang’s visit follows efforts by Beijing to step up its profile as a peace broker in the Middle East conflict.

 

US forces intercepted 70+ drones and at least three ballistic missiles,

 

14 Apr 24.  US officials say US forces intercepted more than 70 one-way attack drones and at least three ballistic missiles during Iran’s attack on Israel, according to two US officials familiar with the situation.

The ballistic missiles were intercepted by warships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, one of the officials said. Iran launched more than 100 ballistic missiles in total at Israel, according to a senior administration official.

The US Navy currently has two destroyers in that area, both are guided missile destroyers capable of intercepting missile and drone launches.

US fighter jets were also part of the response to Iran’s attack on Saturday and shot down drones launched towards Israel, another US official told CNN.

 

Biden to meet with G7 leaders Sunday as he condemns Iran’s “brazen attack”

 

14 Apr 24.  US President Joe Biden will meet with G7 leaders Sunday “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” according to a statement released by the White House.

“My team will engage with their counterparts across the region. And we will stay in close touch with Israel’s leaders,” the statement from Biden reads. “And while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people.”

US defensive assets moved to the region earlier this week and “helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” according to the statement.

Biden also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu following Saturday’s attack “to reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel.”

I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks – sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel,” the president wrote.

Biden told Netanyahu US will not participate in offensive operations against Iran, US official says

The US will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran, US President Joe Biden has made clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a senior administration official told CNN.

The comments were relayed during the phone call that the two leaders shared in the aftermath of Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Israel.

 

Biden tells Netanyahu tonight was a win, nothing of “value” hit in Israel, US official says

 

Israel should consider tonight a win because the current US assessment is that Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s superior military capability, President Joe Biden told Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their phone call, a senior administration official told CNN.

The US’s assessment tonight was that almost all of the drones and missiles – including more than 100 ballistic missiles — launched by Iran had been knocked out of the sky. No cruise missile made impact, the official said, and nothing of “value” was hit.

 

Bolton: ‘Passivity at this point for Israel would be a big mistake’

 

John Bolton, the former US national security adviser and ambassador to the UN, said “passivity at this point for Israel would be a big mistake,” warning of more attacks.

“This is not time to play academic games and message and signal. This is a question of power,” Bolton told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “If they came from a different location containing nuclear warheads, Israel might not be so lucky.”

A known Iran policy hawk, Bolton served in senior national security positions during the Trump and Bush administrations. A neoconservative, Bolton has in the past advocated war with Iran and a pre-emptive strike on North Korea.

In 2022, he was the target of an alleged assassination attempt orchestrated by a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

He has warned against underestimating Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran has said is for peaceful purposes only.

“I think we have enough experience with faulty intelligence by now, not to be so sure, not to know how much of Iran’s uranium enrichment program is really being conducted under a mountain in North Korea,” Bolton said.

If Tehran sent “a wire transfer to Pyongyang,” it would give the North Koreans “enough time to put a couple of warheads on an airplane and fly them to Tehran. (But) if you take away their nuclear capability, that would be a dramatic hit to the regime, maybe enough to topple it.”

 

Israeli military says more than 55 rockets fired from Lebanon to Israel over past hour

 

14 Apr 24.  More than 55 rockets have been fired from Lebanon to Israel over the past hour, according to the Israeli military’s spokesperson. This comes after about 40 rockets were fired at Israel from southern Lebanon on Friday, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Hezbollah militants said they had fired the rockets at Israeli artillery positions in response to recent Israeli attacks and in support of Palestinian people in Gaza. Remember: Since the start of the Hamas-Israel war on October 7, Israel’s flare-up with Hezbollah has intensified on Lebanon’s southern border with Israel. Hezbollah — a Lebanese armed group backed by Iran — has its main area of operations there. Hezbollah has frequently fired missiles into Israel since October 7 and Israel has responded with its own fire, including airstrikes. Israel has ordered the evacuation of communities along the Lebanese border.

 

Iran’s attack on Israel lasted about five hours, US officials say

 

14 Apr 24.  The wave of strikes launched from Iran towards Israel appears to have subsided, two US officials said. The attacks lasted approximately five hours. Early Sunday morning in Israel, the country’s Home Front Command canceled its request for citizens to remain near shelters, an indication that the Israeli military believes the immediate threat of incoming attack has passed. The US, along with Israel, monitored the barrage of drone and missile attacks that began Saturday night and continued into early Sunday morning. The number of launches appeared to fall during Sunday’s early hours, the officials said. US forces throughout the region were positioned to provide defensive support to Israel ahead of the attack, and the US intended to intercept as many of the launches as it could. US forces intercepted a number of drones intended for Israel as part of a coordinated defensive effort, and Washington remains vigilant for the potential of more activity. However, even as the number of Iranian drone and missile launches has fallen, Iranian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon fired a barrage of rockets at northern Israel early Sunday morning. (Source: CNN)

14 Apr 24. Sibylline reported that on 13 April, at approximately 2300hrs (Israel time), Iran began launching waves of drones and cruise missiles towards Israel estimated to total approximately 100 ordnance. Additionally, unconfirmed reports claim large forces of pro-Iran Iraqi militias gathering on the Iraq-Syria border. Israeli officials announced the closure of Israel’s air space between 0030hrs to 0730hrs, cancelling all domestic and international flights into and from Israel. Shortly after the Iranian launches, pro-Iranian militias in the region, including the Houthis in Yemen and militias in Iraq announced that they would also participate in the attack(s). However, at the time of writing, there is no indication of their direct involvement. Lastly, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a large attack in southern Lebanon, likely to reduce Lebanese Hizballah (LH) capabilities and ability to join the Iranian attack.

SIGNIFICANCE 

• Severe security risks across Israel are likely to continue over the coming 24 hours, with security risks in regional countries likely to also remain elevated.
• The attack elevates risks of regional escalation and an armed conflict involving Israel, Hizballah in Lebanon, Iran and the US.
• Airspace closure in Israel and neighbouring countries will disrupt flights and travel across the region in the coming 24 hours.

FORECAST

Drones will likely reach Israel within six to nine hours, elevating security risks across the region. The IDF will likely begin intercepting drones in Jordanian, Lebanese and/or Syrian airspace. Nevertheless, there is a realistic possibility that numerous drones will enter Israeli airspace, elevating collateral risks associated with drone interception and shrapnel. There is also a realistic possibility that Iran has launched cruise missiles towards Israel, which would arrive within approximately two hours. The drones and/or missiles will likely primarily target IDF, substantially increasing physical security risks in locations in proximity to IDF bases and command centres. Interception of drones and missiles before reaching Israel will elevate security risks in regional countries due to shrapnel and debris, particularly in Jordan, Syria and Iraq.

Airspace closures will almost certainly remain in place over the coming hours, while GPS disruption will likely continue disrupting overland movement. As the drones approach Israel, the airspace over Israel and Jordan will almost certainly remain closed, significantly disrupting commercial flight activity. Airlines are also highly likely to temporarily suspend flight services to Iraq, Jordan and Syria. IDF efforts to intercept drones and missiles will almost certainly include further GPS disruption, also limiting overland navigation and further disrupting movement throughout the region.

The IDF will likely escalate strikes on locations associated with Hizballah and allied militants in Lebanon and Syria to prevent co-ordinated strikes designed to overwhelm Israeli air defences. These will elevate security and bystander risks in these areas, particularly in southern Lebanon. Furthermore, strikes are likely to result in retaliation, particularly from LH, further elevating security risks in northern Israel. LH retaliation will further elevate risks of major armed escalation with Israel, elevating further risks of rocket launches across Israel including towards central Israel. (Source: Sibylline)

US Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III

13 Apr 24. Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Iran’s Strikes Against Israel. At the direction of President Biden, U.S. forces in the Middle East on April 13 intercepted dozens of missiles and UAVs en route to Israel, launched from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Our forces remain postured to protect U.S. troops and partners in the region, provide further support for Israel’s defense, and enhance regional stability.

We condemn these reckless and unprecedented attacks by Iran and its proxies, and we call on Iran to immediately halt any further attacks, including from its proxy forces, and to deescalate tensions. We do not seek conflict with Iran, but we will not hesitate to act to protect our forces and support the defense of Israel.

I am grateful for the professionalism and the skill of the brave U.S. troops who took part in today’s actions and who continue to stand guard to prevent further conflict or escalation. I will continue to monitor the situation closely and to consult with our allies and partners.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant for a second time today to reiterate ironclad U.S. support for Israel’s defense in light of Iran’s unprecedented attack from Iranian territory. Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant praised the extraordinary defensive measures and strong cooperation undertaken to defeat this Iranian attack against Israel. Secretary Austin again stated clearly that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against any future attacks by Iran and its regional proxies.

(Source: U.S. DoD)

 

UK Military Activity in the Middle East

 

13 Apr 24. In response to increased Iranian threats and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks.

 

In response to increased Iranian threats and the growing risk of escalation in the Middle East, the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to encourage de-escalation and prevent further attacks.

 

We have moved several additional Royal Air Force jets and air refuelling tankers to the region. These will bolster Operation Shader, which is the UK’s existing counter-Daesh operation in Iraq and Syria. In addition, these UK jets will intercept any airborne attacks within range of our existing missions, as required.

 

We will continue to cooperate closely with our regional partners in the interest of de-escalation. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

10 Apr 24. The UK and Ukraine sign a new defence agreement to encourage cooperation on defence and industrial issues. 

(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

(Photo caption: Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine Alexander Kamyshin, Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, and UK Minister for Trade Policy Greg Hands following signing ceremony)

08 Apr 24. AUKUS partnership to consult with other nations including Japan on military capability collaboration. Consultations between AUKUS partners and other nations to begin this year. Collaboration could include working together in areas such as quantum technologies, undersea capabilities, artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy, cyber, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, and electronic warfare capabilities.

AUKUS is a trilateral security and defence partnership between Australia, the UK and the US, first announced in September 2021. It sees the three nations work together on a range of capabilities to support a free and open Indo-Pacific, including a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability for the UK and Australia – SSN-AUKUS – under Pillar One of the partnership.

Consultation with other countries, including Japan, as potential collaborators on some advanced military capabilities under Pillar Two of the partnership will begin this year.

Australia, the UK and US are considering Japan’s potential involvement in some elements of the Pillar Two programme.

Pillar Two includes quantum technologies, undersea capabilities, artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy, cyber, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, and electronic warfare capabilities, supported by innovation and information sharing.

Partners have always been clear on the intent to engage additional nations in Pillar Two projects as the work progresses. The potential collaborations will complement and build on the close bilateral relationships that all three AUKUS nations have with other countries.

The submarine capability is Pillar One of the AUKUS programme and will always remain a trilateral endeavour. Work is progressing at pace on the submarine programme, with Australia appointing UK company BAE Systems last month to build its SSN-AUKUS submarines in partnership with ASC during a visit by Deputy Prime Minister Marles and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to Osborne shipyard in Adelaide.

Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps said: “In a more dangerous world, relationships and partnerships like AUKUS are more important than ever.  We have always said we would engage additional nations in our Pillar Two work as it progresses, and collaborating with like-minded countries will strengthen the partnership further. I am committed to a peaceful, prosperous and open Indo-Pacific and to working with partners to grow our capabilities and uphold international rules and order.”

AUKUS nations will assess whether involving like-minded nations like Japan would strengthen the development of capabilities. Consultations will begin this year on where potential partners, including Japan, can contribute to and benefit from Pillar Two work.

Japan’s potential involvement was announced by UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Australia Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin today in a joint statement.

Japan and the UK are already working together with Italy on our sixth-generation fighter jet programme, GCAP, where they have proved effective partners. Last year the UK and Japan agreed a landmark new strategic partnership – the Hiroshima accord.

The joint statement comes two weeks after Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited Australia for meetings with their counterparts, and a year after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Australian Prime Minister Albanese and US President Biden met in San Diego.

The AUKUS partnership is a demonstration of the commitment of Australia, the UK, and the US to support peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Engaging like-minded nations in the work of Pillar Two will only strengthen this pursuit.

AUKUS Defense Ministers’ Joint Statement

The Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia; the Right Honourable Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom; and the Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense, United States.

Just over a year ago, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States announced the Optimal Pathway to deliver conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) to Australia — the first major initiative of AUKUS. Today, we take stock of the progress our nations have made, both to deliver this capability and to deepen our work on other advanced capabilities.

Our three countries seek to maximize the strategic benefits of the AUKUS partnership to support security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Australia’s acquisition of a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability is a necessary response to the rapidly evolving strategic environment. Strengthening our trilateral defense capabilities and our industrial capacity will enable AUKUS partners to deter coercion or aggression in the region more effectively.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries remain strongly committed to continued implementation of the ambitious plan set out in the Optimal Pathway for Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. Maintaining steady delivery of this plan will enhance the collective ability of AUKUS partners to promote stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

All AUKUS nations have reaffirmed their commitment to take full advantage of the technological opportunities of AUKUS by combining national strengths to deepen collaboration and deliver game-changing capabilities at pace. The AUKUS nations have bolstered efforts to break down barriers to collaboration, spur a more integrated defense industrial base and private sector partnership, and identify new opportunities for trilateral capability development.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries endorse the following announcements and initiatives across Pillar I and Pillar II.

PILLAR I – CONVENTIONALLY ARMED, NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINES

Significant, tangible steps to implement the Optimal Pathway have occurred in all three nations in the past year. AUKUS partners remain committed to progressing Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines in a way that sets the highest non-proliferation standards.

Leveraging the power of defense industry 

AUKUS partners note the significant milestone for trilateral submarine cooperation provided by the important industry announcements of March 22, 2024, including Australia’s selection of ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems to build its SSN-AUKUS submarines, and its selection of ASC as Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine sustainment partner. These strategic partnerships with industry will leverage respective knowledge, skills, and capabilities across AUKUS nations and will form the foundation for Australia’s new nuclear-powered submarine production and maintenance activities.

Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States are making significant investments in their respective submarine industrial bases, which will ensure the supply chains of all three nations are more resilient, integrated, and productive. This will generate economic growth in defense and national security sectors in all three countries. These partnerships will pave the way for further opportunities for industry to expand and strengthen trilateral supply chains, supporting a sovereign sustainment and build capability in Australia.

Establishing Submarine Rotational Force-West 

Building on the success of earlier SSN visits to Australia since the Optimal Pathway announcement, AUKUS partners welcomed a visit by USS Annapolis to HMAS Stirling in March 2024. This latest visit is part of a trilateral commitment to more frequent SSN visits to HMAS Stirling under the Optimal Pathway. This, and future such visits from UK and U.S. SSNs, will contribute to building Australia’s capacity to support a rotational presence of UK and U.S. SSNs under Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) from as early as 2027, and Australia’s future sovereign SSN capability.

The most significant maintenance activity to be conducted on an SSN in Australia, to date, is scheduled to occur in the second half of 2024. The maintenance activity, supported by a Submarine Tender, will be critical to building Australia’s ability to safely and securely sustain U.S. SSNs in preparation for the establishment of SRF-West. In anticipation of this forthcoming activity, 37 Royal Australian Navy sailors reported to the USS Emory S. Land in Guam in late January 2024, to begin training and to gain the necessary skills and qualifications. Australian industry personnel will also be involved in supporting this activity to continue to grow the submarine sustainment workforce and supply chain. UK Royal Navy officers will observe the activity to enable integration of UK maintenance requirements for future UK SSN port visits and future UK rotational presence as part of SRF-West. This will be the first time that Australian personnel will actively participate in the maintenance of a U.S. SSN in Australia, enabled by the provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

Important steps have been taken towards delivering a sovereign conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine training capability for Australia. In December 2023, the United States and Australia finalised a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case to procure submarine training devices to support the establishment of SRF-West. As part of the FMS case, the first contracts were awarded this month by the United States for submarine training simulators. These will be used to train Royal Australian Navy personnel on the Virginia class platform in advance of Australia operating its own sovereign Virginia class SSNs, and supporting visiting and rotational U.S. Virginia class SSNs through SRF-West. The FMS case will also enable the training of Australian Defence and industry personnel in the United States. In March 2024, a cohort of 20 Australian industry personnel completed a successful three-month placement at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

Enabling legislative and policy change 

AUKUS partners welcomed the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 by the U.S. Congress in December 2023. This was essential for implementation of the Optimal Pathway, including through the U.S. Congress’ AUKUS Submarine Transfer Authorization Act regarding the sale of Virginia class SSNs to Australia, and enabling critical workforce development activities. A further legislative milestone was achieved through the introduction of nuclear safety legislation – the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 and Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 – to the Australian Parliament in November 2023. Once passed by the Australian Parliament, this legislation will establish the nuclear safety framework for Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine enterprise.

Accelerating workforce growth 

Progress has been made to implement the education and training initiatives announced by AUKUS Defense Ministers in December 2023, supporting workforce development for Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine enterprise. Australians are undertaking placements in the United Kingdom and United States throughout 2024 to build Australia’s industrial workforce. These placements will be undertaken in accordance with AUKUS partners’ respective obligations and commitments under international and domestic law, including with respect to nuclear non-proliferation. Later this year, ASC employees will commence placements at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard to develop the skills necessary to sustain Virginia class SSNs. They will be the first Australian civilian industry personnel to train in the United States following the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

More than 20 Royal Australian Navy sailors and officers are currently in the U.S. Navy Submarine Training system. The first three Royal Australian Navy submarine officers completed the U.S. naval nuclear power training pipeline and are on track to graduate from the Submarine Officer Basic Course in Groton, Connecticut later this month. They will report to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in June to serve on U.S. Virginia class SSNs while completing further qualifications. Over the next 12 months, these numbers will increase to more than 100 Royal Australian Navy personnel in training across the United States, including serving at sea on U.S. Virginia class SSNs. These training opportunities are critical to ensure Australia is ready to operate its sovereign Virginia class SSNs from the early 2030s. In the United Kingdom, three Royal Australian Navy officers have completed initial nuclear power training at HMS Sultan. They will undertake further engineering courses and are on track to graduate from the UK Nuclear Reactor course in July this year, before commencing practical qualification within the Royal Navy Submarine Arm. These officers will be deployed on a UK Astute class SSN.

Australia and the United Kingdom, and Australia and the United States, have signed bilateral Memoranda of Understanding for personnel exchanges to help accelerate growth of Australia’s sovereign workforce.

PILLAR II – ADVANCED CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT 

Advancing commitments from December 2023, AUKUS partners highlighted efforts under Pillar II to bolster industry and innovation sector collaboration. Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States are pooling the talents of our defense sectors to catalyze, at an unprecedented pace, the delivery of advanced capabilities. Partners are working with investors, private capital, and traditional and non-traditional industry to translate disruptive technology into asymmetric capability for our three defense forces.

Progress on the AUKUS Defense Ministers’ commitments into the AUKUS Advanced Capabilities endeavour is continuing. Although much of this activity remains classified, AUKUS partners are making strides towards jointly realizing greater maritime awareness through networked autonomy, decision advantage, and enhanced strike.

Private sector financing

AUKUS partners welcomed the first meeting of the Defense Investors Network on February 28, 2024. Pillar II is embracing innovative finance and investment as key enablers for advanced capability development. Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States look forward to engaging with the Defense Investors Network and similarly focused groups on opportunities under Pillar II.

Aligning our systems

AUKUS partners are continuing to update laws and policies to enable effective implementation of AUKUS Pillar II. Partners are working through our respective National Armaments Directors towards better harmonization of our capability development and acquisition systems to support more seamless and agile cooperation. A National Armaments Directors’ tabletop exercise in March tested our respective national processes in three scenarios against co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment.

Securing licence-free defense trade

AUKUS partners are making progress in aligning exports and trade regulations to drive deeper defense trade. Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States are taking significant and tangible steps to meet their commitment to streamline trade among and between the AUKUS partners. In December 2023, the U.S. Congress included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 a pathway to a historic export control exemption to streamline the flow of defense trade for Australia and the United Kingdom. To complement this, on March 27, 2024, Australia passed the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024 that provides the reciprocal national exemption for the United States and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is progressing reform to its Open General Export License Program to provide reciprocal exemption for Australia and the United States. These collective mechanisms will enable most defense items to transfer or re-transfer between the three countries without needing further authorization. This environment will set the conditions for unparalleled levels of defense cooperation between AUKUS partners and enable the integration of our industrial bases to accelerate our technological advantage.

Strengthening links across our industrial bases

Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States acknowledged the launch of the AUKUS Advanced Capabilities Industry Forum, which will hold its first meeting on April 9, 2024. The Forum is the key interface between AUKUS governments and industrial bases, via our trade associations. It will focus on trilateral requirements, capability planning, development, and delivery of AUKUS Advanced Capabilities. The Industry Forum provides an opportunity for government and industry representatives to come together to exchange ideas and deepen industrial collaboration on advanced capabilities.

Innovation driven capability

AUKUS partners launched the inaugural Pillar II Innovation Challenge on electronic warfare on March 26, 2024, as a collaborative initiative between respective innovation accelerator units. This will be the first in a series of AUKUS innovation challenges that will identify opportunities to harness commercial technologies from all three nations to support advanced capability development under AUKUS.

Responding to operational demand

Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States welcomed the Land Commanders Statement of Intent to develop a land contribution to AUKUS Pillar II, the AUKUS Army Armaments Cooperation Forum, and the Combined Multi-Domain Task Force. All three countries affirmed their support for Land Commanders to pursue opportunities in Long Range Fires under AUKUS Pillar II in 2024.

Engaging close partners and allies

Since the inception of AUKUS, our nations have been clear in our intent to engage others in Pillar II projects as our work progresses. Over the past two and a half years, we have built a strong, trilateral foundation for delivering advanced military capabilities at speed and scale. AUKUS partners have developed principles and models for additional partner engagement in individual Pillar II projects and will undertake consultations in 2024 with prospective partners regarding areas where they can contribute to, and benefit from, this historic work.

In identifying collaboration opportunities, we will take into account factors such as technological innovation, financing, industrial strengths, ability to adequately protect sensitive data and information, and impact on promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Our objective remains to further the delivery of advanced military capabilities to our respective defense forces in support of regional stability and security; we are confident that engaging like-minded partners in the work of Pillar II will only strengthen this pursuit. Recognizing Japan’s strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries, we are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects.

Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States are committed to continued openness and transparency with international partners on AUKUS. We look forward to continuing close collaboration to advance the generational potential of AUKUS. Through the activities of both Pillars, all three countries affirm their commitment to work jointly and together with the region to ensure a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, complementing the existing regional architecture. (Source: U.S. DoD)

21 Mar 24. UK and Australia commit to modernising and deepening defence relationship.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps signed a new Defence and Security Cooperation Agreement during a visit to Canberra.

A new Defence and Security Cooperation Agreement was signed today at Parliament House, Canberra, by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles.

This agreement strengthens our partnership to meet the challenges of a more dangerous world.

It includes an agreement which will make it easier for our Armed Forces to operate together in each other’s countries, as is currently happening through Operation Interflex – the joint training of Ukrainian troops in the UK. It will also help facilitate UK submarine crews visiting Australia as part of the AUKUS partnership.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The UK and Australia fought side by side 80 years ago against tyranny on the beaches of Normandy. Today our two great nations continue to stand together to secure peace and prosperity the world over.  We’re facing the challenges of a more dangerous world together, and through partnerships like this agreement, AUKUS, and our continued support to Ukraine, we’re defending our freedoms and shared values.”

Australia Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said: “Australia’s relationship with the UK is dynamic and enduring. From the UK’s leadership of support for Ukraine and efforts to address the Houthi threat, to increasing contributions in the Pacific and the Indo-Pacific, we continue to work closely together to support a global rules-based order. As the world becomes more complex and uncertain, we must modernise our most important partnerships.2

The agreements we reached today will secure this outcome into the future.

The agreement also formalises the already established practice of our nations consulting each other on issues that affect sovereignty and regional security.

The new agreement was signed after the Defence Ministers met for annual talks in Australia, ahead of wider meetings together with Foreign Ministers in Adelaide, known as AUKMIN.

(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

21 Mar 24. UK firm appointed to build Australian AUKUS submarines.

The partnership between British firm BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd could be worth billions of pounds, in a major boost to the UK’s defence industry

British firm BAE Systems will partner with ASC Pty Ltd to build Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines, in a major moment for the AUKUS programme.

Meeting in Australia, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, and US Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, welcomed the partnership.

The submarine builder deal follows months of negotiations and is a monumental success for British industry. BAE Systems have been at the heart of the UK’s submarine enterprise for generations and will bring their experience and excellence to deliver this important submarine for Australia.

First announced in September 2021, AUKUS is a trilateral security and defence partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US that will see our nations work together on a range of capabilities, including a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability for Australia.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “In a more dangerous world, today’s announcement symbolises the huge confidence our close partner Australia has in our world-leading defence industry, including companies such as BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce.

Through these collaborations, British industry will grow, and thousands of jobs will be created across the country, delivering security and prosperity to our two nations.”

Opportunities through the AUKUS supply chain for British industry could be worth billions across the life of the Australian submarine programme. That includes Rolls-Royce, which will deliver the nuclear propulsion plants for the Australian programme.

As announced in March 2023, Australia has agreed to make a significant investment into the UK’s submarine industrial base, including Rolls-Royce, Sheffield Forgemasters, and their supply chains, to support the delivery of the Australian SSN-AUKUS programme. This investment, alongside funding from the UK Ministry of Defence, will enable the Rolls-Royce Derby site to double in size, with a further 1,170 highly-skilled jobs created.

CEO of BAE Systems, Charles Woodburn, said: “We’re extremely proud of our role in the delivery of this vitally important, tri-nation submarine programme. Our selection as a partner in Australia, alongside ASC, recognises our role as the UK’s long-term submarine design and build partner and as a key player in Australia’s maritime enterprise and wider defence landscape. Drawing on decades of experience in the UK and Australia, we look forward to working with ASC to develop an enduring, sovereign nuclear-powered submarine building capability for Australia.

We’re already making good progress on the design and development of the next generation submarine in the UK where we have more than 1,000 people working on the SSN-AUKUS programme and major infrastructure investment underway.”

This latest step will ensure an integral connection between the UK design and the build strategy development in Australia as we work together to deliver next generation military capability as well as considerable social and economic value to all three nations.

Rolls-Royce Submarines President, Steve Carlier, said: “Last year we were proud to welcome the Hon Richard Marles MP, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence and UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to our Raynesway site and showcase some of the world-class manufacturing and engineering capabilities we have developed over the last 60 years. This commitment of funding to our existing expansion work shows the trust Australia places on our nuclear expertise and our ability to deliver. We look forward to working with the Australian Submarine Agency to support them in building their own fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

These jobs are part of the 7,000 additional British jobs that the UK’s and Australia’s AUKUS submarine programme will generate through their life. At the peak, there will be over 21,000 people working on the SSN-AUKUS programmes in the UK – concentrated in Barrow-in-Furness and Derby.2

The first UK submarines built to this design will be delivered in the late 2030s to replace the current Astute Class vessels, and the first Australian submarines will follow in the early 2040s.

The appointment of a builder by Australia comes a year after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Australian Prime Minister Albanese and US President Biden met in San Diego, where they announced that the first generation of AUKUS submarines would be based on the UK’s world-leading design. The AUKUS partnership is a demonstration of the commitment of Australia, the UK, and the US to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

The partnership has carried out extensive engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, with all countries committed to developing an approach which protects classified information and strengthens the global non-proliferation regime.

(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

21 Mar 24. The Australian Government has selected BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd to build Australia’s new fleet of nuclear powered submarines in the latest significant development in the AUKUS trilateral security pact between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, and UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, announced the news in Australia, marking the next step in the pathway for Australia to build and operate its own nuclear powered submarines.

Under the AUKUS agreement, Australia and the UK will operate a common submarine of the future, incorporating technology from all three nations, based on the UK’s next generation design which BAE Systems is leading.

BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd will now bring together their complementary skills, expertise and capabilities under a collaborative arrangement in Australia, ultimately leading to the establishment of a long-term, incorporated Joint Venture.

Defence Secretary Shapps said: “In a more dangerous word, today’s announcement symbolises the huge confidence our close partner Australia has in our world-leading defence industry, including companies such as BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce. Through these collaborations, British industry will grow, and thousands of jobs created across the country, delivering security and prosperity to our two nations.”

BAE Systems Chief Executive, Charles Woodburn, said: “We’re extremely proud of our role in the delivery of this vitally important, tri-nation submarine programme. Our selection as a partner in Australia, alongside ASC, recognises our role as the UK’s long-term submarine design and build partner and as a key player in Australia’s maritime enterprise and wider defence landscape. Drawing on decades of experience in the UK and Australia, we look forward to working with ASC to develop an enduring, sovereign nuclear-powered submarine building capability for Australia. We’re already making good progress on the design and development of the next generation submarine in the UK where we have more than 1,000 people working on the SSN-AUKUS programme and major infrastructure investment underway. This latest step will ensure an integral connection between the UK design and the build strategy development in Australia as we work together to deliver next generation military capability as well as considerable social and economic value to all three nations.”

SSN-AUKUS will be the largest, most powerful and advanced attack submarines the Royal Navy has ever operated and will start to replace the Astute class, which BAE Systems is building at its site in Barrow-in-Furness in the North West of England, from the late 2030s. Australia expects to deliver its first SSN-AUKUS submarine in the early 2040s.

The UK Ministry of Defence awarded BAE Systems almost £4bn for the next phase of the SSN-AUKUS programme in October. The funding covers development work through to 2028, enabling BAE Systems to progress the detailed design phase of the programme and procure long-lead items. The award is also funding significant infrastructure investment in Barrow, which will see the site’s facilities double in size from 80,000 to 160,000 m2 by the late 2030s, as part of a multi-billion pound programme, and continued recruitment to support the national endeavour.

BAE Systems has already increased its UK submarines workforce to 13,500 with plans to grow to around 17,000 at its peak to support SSN-AUKUS in the UK, as well as the Astute and Dreadnought programmes, providing a significant employment boost for the region.

BAE Systems is the UK’s long-term submarine build partner and brings critical nuclear-powered submarine building experience and intellectual property. The involvement of BAE Systems in Australia ensures an integral connection between the SSN-AUKUS design led by BAE Systems in the UK and the development and maturation of the Australian build strategy.

BAE Systems has already delivered five of seven Astute class submarines to the Royal Navy in the UK, with the remaining two boats at advanced stages of construction at its shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness. The Company is also designing and building the UK’s next-generation nuclear deterrent submarines, Dreadnought, with construction underway on the first three of four new boats.

In Australia, BAE Systems has a long and proud heritage over 70 years providing advanced defence technology from air and maritime sustainment to shipbuilding, which protects both people and national security, keeping critical information and infrastructure secure.

 

29 Feb 24. Spectra Group, a specialist provider of secure voice, data and satellite communications systems, has been awarded the global distribution rights for Comtech’s Troposcatter Family of Systems (FoS) which includes the 500-Watt Mobile Transportable Transmission System (MTTS), the more mobile 10-Watt Compact Over-the-Horizon Mobile Expeditionary Terminal (COMET), and other new next generation troposcatter systems.

The 5-year agreement appoints Spectra Group in all areas globally, except for the USA, Canada and Mexico which is retained by Comtech.

Spectra Group was first appointed by Comtech as UK and NATO Special Operations Forces (SOF) agents in September 2019. Since then, Spectra Group has announced multiple orders for Comtech’s Troposcatter FoS including UK Navy (Royal Marines) in March 2022, HQ ARRC in March 2023, 3 (UK) Division in September 2023 and an overseas customer.  In October 2023, Spectra Group placed a USD$20M plus order with Comtech to service multiple orders already received, and several expected follow-on orders from undisclosed customers in the NATO and European regions.

The Troposcatter FoS, developed by Comtech, provide high capacity, low-latency data links for over-the-horizon communications utilizing Comtech’s state-of-the-art CS67PLUS troposcatter radio/modem, without the need to rely on satellites or multiple line-of-sight repeaters.  The Troposcatter COMET system, in particular, is ideal for providing a secure big data network for deployed headquarters from divisional down to company level because it is small and lightweight. Due to its low power and directional nature, it is also difficult to detect and deny.  It uses a maximum transmit power of 10-watts and only needs a 1-meter dish, but still has low latency (typically 9-20mS) and large bandwidth (5-60Mbps) while optimized for data links up to 60 km and beyond.  In practice, data transfer speeds can be much greater (the CS67PLUS operates up to 105 Mbps single stream and 210 Mbps dual stream operation) and data links can be effective up to 100kms+ on the COMET, depending on the environment.  The system is simple, intuitive, and easy to set up (15 minutes).  Critically, it is also satellite independent and can work in a GPS/GNSS denied environment (including polar regions) making it ideal for use during Peer-on-Peer conflict and when Multi Domain Integration is required.

Since March 2022, Comtech’s Troposcatter COMET has been available on the NATO Catalogue via the NATO Support Procurement Agency (NSPA), so any NATO country can purchase directly without having to endure a long tender process.  For the rest of the world, the Troposcatter FoS can be purchased directly from Spectra Group or via Comtech for North America.

Simon Davies, CEO of Spectra Group said: “Spectra is delighted to have expanded our distribution region for this excellent product that perfectly complements our own SlingShot satellite communication system.  We have been working closely with Comtech for the last 4 years and our recent sales successes are testament to the value of that partnership.  With increasing state-level global threats to communications and the potential for denied or degraded satellite services, we need to maintain focus on innovation and diversification.  The fresh development of robust, reliable and effective Troposcatter technologies opens up the opportunity to offer multiple long-range, secure communications solutions that don’t rely exclusively on satellite systems and we are very happy to be at the forefront of these developing technologies.”

Ken Peterman, Comtech’s President and CEO said, “With the most deployed Troposcatter systems in the world, our FoS are uniquely designed to provide U.S. and coalition forces with an information advantage across all domains. We are thrilled to partner with Spectra Group to expand access to Comtech’s FoS and deliver our marketing leading beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) troposcatter technologies to coalition forces operating across the globe. It was an easy decision to partner with Spectra Group given the company’s trust in the industry and deep understanding of how command, control, computers, communications, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) will evolve to meet the mission needs of today and in the future.”

Spectra has a proven record of accomplishment – with over 15 years of experience in delivering solutions for governments around the globe; elite militaries; and private enterprises of all sizes. As a dynamic, agile, security accredited organisation, Spectra can leverage this experience to deliver Cyber Advisory and secure Hosted and Managed Solutions on time, to spec and on budget, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices. Spectra’s gold-level partnerships with third-party vendors ensure best value and leading-edge technology is used. On 23 November 2017, Spectra Group (UK) Ltd announced that it had been listed as a Top 100 Government SME Supplier for 2015-2016 by the UK Crown Commercial Services. Spectra Group (US) Inc. was established in 2018 to directly support the US market.

About Spectra Group

Spectra Group were awarded the 5-year contact to be the UK distributor of Troposcatter COMET for US company Comtech Systems Inc. in mid-2019.  Comtech is a leading global provider of next-generation 911 emergency systems and critical wireless and satellite communication technologies.

Spectra’s CEO, Simon Davies, was awarded 2017 Businessman of the Year by Battlespace magazine.

Spectra was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation) in 2019 for SlingShot.

Founded in 2002, the Company is based in Hereford, UK and holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation.

www.spectra-group.co.uk

 

About Comtech

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (Comtech) is a leading global technology company providing terrestrial and wireless network solutions, next-generation 9-1-1 emergency services, satellite and space communications technologies, and cloud native capabilities to commercial and government customers around the world. Our unique culture of innovation and employee empowerment unleashes a relentless passion for customer success. With multiple facilities located in technology corridors throughout the United States and around the world, Comtech leverages our global presence, technology leadership, and decades of experience to create the world’s most innovative communications solutions. For more information, please visit www.comtech.com.