EUROPE
10 Jul 06. Iraq: OP TELIC. The cost of Operations in Iraq was £847m in 2002/03, £1,311m in 2003/04 and £910m in 2004/05. The MoD requested £1,098m for 2005/06. (Ministerial Answer (MA), 10 Jul 06.) The GOC Multinational Division (South East) handed-over responsibility for security in Al Muthanna Province to the Iraqi Security Forces on 13 Jul 06. (MoD, 13 Jul 06.) The total number of Service personnel serving in Iraq is “in the region” of 7,200. Up to a further 2,800 personnel are stationed outside Iraq in support of OP TELIC. (MA, 13 Jul 06.)
Comment: Coalition Forces in Al Muthanna Province (Australia – about 550; Japan – about 600 and UK – about 150) have largely been providing training, together with reconstruction. Security in the Province has passed to some 5,000 Iraqis. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0627, 17 Jul 06)
27 Jun 06. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. The two soldiers killed in action on 27 Jun 06, who had previously not been identified, were named as
Captain D Patten of The Parachute Regiment and Sergeant P Bartlett, Royal Marines. The Defence Secretary announced (10 Jul 06) that additional troops were to be sent to Helmand Province. The Minister also outlined the roulement between 3 Commando Brigade and 16 Air Assault Brigade, which is due to take place in October 2006. Details are at page 3. There are currently no Warrior infantry fighting vehicles in Afghanistan. (MA, 11 Jul 06.)
Comment: The Defence Secretary’s statement (10 Jul 06) to the House of Commons and the accompanying briefings were, to put it mildly, confusing. Page 3 is an attempt to put some order into the announcements (and it would have been helpful if the MoD had produced something similar). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0627, 17 Jul 06)
14 Jul 06. MoD publishes Annual Report and Accounts 2005 – 2006. MoD’s Annual Report and Accounts were published today by Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne. Once again the National Audit Office has approved them without qualification showing the Department is firmly in charge of its finances. The report highlights progress towards the ‘Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities’ programme of Defence modernisation and reform that is crucial as we equip our forces for the challenges of the 21st Century. Thanks to these changes substantial additional resources are becoming available to support the front line. It also reflects that 2005-06 has been an extremely demanding year. British forces have made an immense contribution around the world. As well as in Iraq and Afghanistan, they have helped maintain progress and stability in the Balkans and Africa, and provided security for the UK’s overseas territories. At home we continue to support the civil authorities, including search and rescue, fisheries protection and explosive ordnance disposal.
10 Jul 06. BAE Systems, said on July 10 it was in talks with the British Ministry of Defence about additional funding for destroyers the firm is building for the Royal Navy. BAE and the ministry have clashed over cost overruns on fixed-price contracts in the past, including nuclear submarines and spyplane refits, but a BAE spokeswoman said there was no clash this time. “This is completely provided for in the contract,” she said, referring to negotiations over the Type 45 ships, which are due to enter service in 2009. The Type 45 is part of an expansion program by the Royal Navy, which also plans to buy two new aircraft carriers. The ministry has committed to buying 6 of the destroyers at a cost of about £600m ($1.11bn) each with options to buy two more. (Source: Defense News)
Jul 06. The Greek defense ministry on Friday said it had approved an offset package worth $250m as part of the purchase of 30 F-16 fighter aircraft from Lockheed Martin. The deal includes manufacturing projects for Greece’s state and private defense industry, the ministry said in a statement. According to Lockheed Martin, the total val