31 Jul 07. Northern Ireland: OP BANNER Record. OPERATION BANNER – An Analysis of Military Operations in Northern Ireland (Army Code 71842) has been published and is available to the general public. The publication aims “to record the major lessons from British Military Operations in Northern Ireland since 1969 in order to guide future Commanders and Staff Officers”.
Comment: OP BANNER is due to end on 31 Jul 07 and the publication of this analysis should prove helpful to a wide military audience. To obtain a copy it is suggested that subscribers enter the MoD website (www.mod.uk) and then look under the ‘Freedom of Information Publications Scheme’. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0728, 16 Jul 07)

12 Jul 07. Reserve Forces: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Report. The PAC published (12 Jul 07) a Report on Reserve Forces. The Report notes the change in “the culture of the Volunteer Reserve Forces to one where Reservists now expect and want to serve on Operations”. Over 12,000 Reservists have served in Iraq since early 2003. The Report also records that all of the Volunteer Reserve Forces are below strength.
Comment: The Report fails to address the question of who is supposed to fill the gap left by Volunteers becoming quasi-Regulars. With all the recent changes in the organisation of the Reserves, it would have been helpful to have had some basic information included for reference. The earlier work by the National Audit Office on the same subject (HC 964 of 31 Mar 06) was more informative, but is now dated. The PAC Report is available from TSO and from The Parliamentary Bookshop (Tel: 020-7219 3890),as HC 729, for £11:00. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0728, 16 Jul 07)

05 Jul 07. SIPRI: Yearbook 2007 Published. SIPRI Yearbook 2007 has recently (5 Jul 07) been made available in the UK. The Yearbook is SIPRI’s compendium of data and analysis of developments in security and conflicts, military spending, non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament.
Comment: The 2007 edition of this invaluable reference book (ISBN 978-0-19-923021-1) has 752 pages and costs £85:00. Orders can be placed through any good book shop or through the Oxford University Press (01536-741017 (Tel); 454518 (Fax)). Further details are available on line (yearbook2007.sipri.org). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0728, 16 Jul 07)

30 Jun 07. Global 500: Aerospace & Defence Rankings. The Financial Times published (30 Jun 07) its annual ranking of the world’s largest companies, ranked by market capitalisation as at 30 Mar 07. Aerospace & Defence companies were ranked: Boeing – 104th (96th in 2006); United Technologies – 116th (100th); Lockheed Martin – 203rd (208th); General Dynamics – 276th (275th); BAE Systems – 308th (312th); Northrop Grumman – 336th (307th); EADS – 361st (195th) and Raytheon – 386th (372nd).
Comment: Market capitalisation is defined as the share price multiplied by the number of shares issued. Additional information on the FT Global 500 for 2007 is available on the relevant website (www.ft.com/ft500). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0728, 16 Jul 07)