01 May 07. Combat Identification: Report. The Public Accounts Committee published (1 May 07) a Report on Progress in Combat Identification. The Committee notes that the MoD has failed to develop viable combat identification solutions to counter the risks of friendly fire incidents. The Report also records that, in the period since 1990, none of the UK’s major partner nations (Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands) other than the US has been responsible for any deaths by friendly fire.
Comment: Little appears to have changed since 1950. It is of interest that the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) is developing a fratricide database from incidents since that date. The Report is available from TSO and from The Parliamentary Bookshop (Tel: 020-7219 3890), as HC 486, for £8:50. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0718, 07 May 07)