NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPE
22 Feb 09.Iraq: OP TELIC. 15 Squadron, RAF Regiment, is in the process of taking over from 51 Squadron. (RAF Update, 22 Feb 09.)
In the five financial years from 1 Apr 03 to 31 Mar 08, the net additional costs of military Operations in Iraq were £5,592m (£4,438m resource costs and £1,154m capital equipment). (Ministerial Answer (MA), 23 Feb 09.)
“The overall security situation in Iraq continues to improve….” (MA, 23 Feb 09.)
Five of the 11 Medical Officers serving in the OP TELIC Field Hospital are Reservists. (MA, 23 Feb 09.)
The Foreign Secretary visited Iraq on 26/27 Feb 09. Discussions with senior Government Ministers included trade, educational and cultural links between the two Countries. (FCO, 26 Feb 09.)
HMS LANCASTER arrived back in Portsmouth on 27 Feb 09, having been replaced in the Gulf by
HMS RICHMOND. (MoD, 27 Feb 09.)
Comment: The Defence Secretary made a comprehensive Statement covering the detention and transfer of people captured by UK Forces in Iraq (and Afghanistan). The Statement is recorded in Hansard for 26 Feb 09, starting in Column 394. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/10, 02 Mar 09)
25 Feb 09. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. A Marine from 45 Commando died in Selly Oak Hospital on 25 Feb 09, from wounds sustained in action in Helmand Province on 23 Feb 09. A Corporal, a Lance Corporal and a Rifleman from 1st Bn The Rifles were killed by an explosion in Helmand Province on 25 Feb 09. UK deaths since the start of Operations in October 2001 thus rose to 149, of whom 120 were killed as a result of hostile action. (MoD, 25 Feb 09.)
Harrier GR9 pilots hosted a ‘Lessons Identified’ workshop with other aircraft partners including those from the Belgian, Dutch and French contingents. (RAF Update, 22 Feb 09.)
Three of the 15 Medical Officers serving in the OP HERRICK Field Hospital are Reservists. (MA, 23 Feb 09.)
“UK and other ISAF troops are making tangible progress in Afghanistan”. The Afghan National Army (ANA) is now 78,000 strong and the Police (ANP) 82,000. (MA, 23 Feb 09.)
165 British Service personnel have been very seriously/seriously injured in Afghanistan since January 2006 and a total of 175 since October 2001. (MA, 23 Feb 09.)
33 Engineer Regiment personnel assisted the ANA and ANP in destroying nearly 70 items of dangerous ordnance. (MoD, 25 Feb 09.)
Tornado GR4 aircraft will not now replace Harriers in Spring 2009 as previously announced, but in Summer 2009. Joint Force Harrier will continue to provide close air support, with 1 Squadron replacing 4 Squadron in mid-April 2009. (Defence Secretary, 25 Feb 09.)
Comment: Troop deployment to Afghanistan was extensively discussed during House of Commons Oral Questions on 23 Feb 09. A record of the discussion can be found at the start of ‘Hansard’ for the day. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/10, 02 Mar 09)
23 Feb 09. King Air 350 Aircraft: Acquisition. The International Defence Minister said (23 Feb 09) that four King Air 350 aircraft had been procured “at a cost in the region of £70m, as an urgent operational requirement to support enduring Operations this year”.
Comment: Acquisition of a small number of King Air 350ER special mission aircraft was first noted in the specialist media during July 2007, when it was understood that the aircraft were for service with the Army Air Corps. During January/February 2009, the MoD confirmed the acquisition and said that four aircraft would enter RAF service with 5 Squadron at Waddington and would be known as Shadow R1. It is understood that the aircraft are being converted into intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance (ISTAR) platforms in order to support Operations in Afghanistan. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 09/10, 02 Mar 09)
25 Feb 09. The debate on whether to return to Nato’s permanent command structure that has recently been unleashed in France – 43 years after Charles de Gaulle pulled his country out – has impas