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03 Jun 11. The Royal Marines could pull out of their Scottish base at Arbroath as part of a major reorganisation of British forces, Ministry of Defence sources have revealed. The Scotsman has learned that shifting 45 Commando nearer their “heartland” in Exmoor and Plymouth is “a serious option” and would be the “preferred option”. If a decision is made to move the unit, which is currently serving in Afghanistan, it will end a relationship with RM Condor that has lasted four decades since the unit was moved there from Plymouth in 1971. The removal of the unit would come on top of the loss of two of Scotland’s three RAF bases with either Leuchars in Fife or Lossiemouth in Moray set to join Kinloss in being closed down in the basing review due to report before the summer recess. (Source: The Scotsman)
02 Jun 11. The UK government plans to double the size of the army in Scotland to try to prevent military cuts being used by the SNP to boost the case for independence, The Scotsman can reveal. With the 18,000-strong British Army presence in Germany to be completely withdrawn between 2015 and 2020, it is understood about 3,000 of the returning troops are to be re-based in Scotland, bringing the total to 6,000. Ministers hope the increase will make up for the loss of a similar number of RAF personnel, as two bases north of the Border are closed. Military sources have made it clear that the option of being moving more troops to Scotland is being resisted by senior army figures, mainly because of a lack of training facilities. However, Ministry of Defence sources say ministers intend to make “a political decision” to set up one of the new multi-purpose brigades in Scotland to make up for the RAF losses and to challenge the Nationalists by showing a statistical increase in military personnel in Scotland under the coalition’s watch. According to some sources, the recent Scottish Parliament elections – where Alex Salmond led his party to a historic majority – have hardened the resolve of UK ministers not to allow defence to become another tool for those pushing the case for independence. (Source: Scotsman)
01 Jun 11. Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Air Force commemorated the arrival of the first RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) at Grand Forks Air Force Base. The aircraft landed on May 26 from Beale Air Force Base, Calif. The arrival of the Global Hawk also commemorates Grand Forks as the second main operating base in the United States after Beale.”Expanding the Global Hawk’s mission of high altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in today’s fight is essential,” said Brig. Gen. Paul H. McGillicuddy, 9th Reconnaissance Wing commander. “Having this platform at Grand Forks allows us the ability to fly more missions providing continuous support to combatant commanders around the world.”Both Block 20 and 40 Global Hawks will be controlled from Grand Forks. The Block 40 Global Hawk will deploy from the Grand Forks main operating base to any location worldwide for both military and humanitarian applications.
06 Jun 11. Cassidian and Emiraje Systems have collaborated with Khalifa University, UAE, to establish the Cyber Operations Centre of Excellence.
According to the agreement signed in 2010 for the establishment, Cassidian and Emiraje will provide resources and equipment to Khalifa in support of the development of intellectual property in the field of cyber operations. The centre will enhance research capability in specified cyber technology areas including networking security, mobility security, cryptology, forensics and embedded devices such as Industrial Control Systems / SCADA. Kh