Web page sponsored by Force Protection Europe Ltd.
http://www.forceprotectioneurope.co.uk
Force Protection Europe (FPE) was established in 2009 to provide a UK-based vehicle support organisation for the world renowned Cougar vehicles (Mastiff, Ridgback and Wolfhound). Over 700 of these vehicles are in service with the UK MoD and continue to save heroes’ lives. Since its formation, FPE has developed a revolutionary light protected patrol vehicle, Ocelot. In 2010, Ocelot was awarded the contract for the UK’s Light Protected Patrol Vehicle Programme and named Foxhound by the MoD. It is the best protected vehicle for its weight and size available today. Patrol, utility load bed and weapons pods offer Ocelot flexibility and fleet coherence.
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EUROPE
09 Mar 11. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. A Lance Corporal from 1st Bn The Royal Irish Regiment was killed by an improvised explosive device in the Nad-e Ali District on 9 Mar 11. UK deaths since the start of Operations on 7 Oct 01 thus rose to 359, of whom 315 were killed as a result of hostile action. (MoD, 9 Mar 11.)
“….we expect the formal process of transition to Afghan-led security to begin shortly….we should expect levels of insurgent activity to rise again in the Spring….” (Defence Secretary, 7 Mar 11.)
The Foreign and Defence Secretaries issued statements following reports that Iranian-made weapons destined for the Taliban were seized by Afghan and ISAF Forces. (MoD, 10 Mar 11.)
Comment: The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission issued (9 Mar 11) their annual report on the protection of civilians, which recorded over 2,700 conflict-related civilian deaths in 2010. Anti-government elements were linked to over 2,000 of those killed while pro-government forces were responsible for 440 civilian deaths. The balance of some 260 civilian deaths could not be attributed.
Tension caused by the deaths of Afghan civilians was aggravated by the killing of one of President Karzai’s cousins by a US-led team during a night raid on 9/10 Mar 11 on the village of Karz. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 11/11, 14 Mar 11)
18 Mar 11. The UK is preparing to move fighter jets to bases from where they can help enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, after the United Nations Security Council gave the green light to conduct air strikes against Colonel Gaddafi’s forces, David Cameron, prime minister, said on Friday.
“Preparations to deploy these aircraft have already started and in the coming hours they will move to airbases from where they can start to take the necessary action.” Mr Cameron told parliament. (Source: FT.com)
18 Mar 11. Germany has offered the Croatian Air Force 20 aging F-4 Phantom fighter planes free-of-charge, reports Croatian state TV HRT.
The McDonnell Douglas Phantoms will replace Croatia’s six Soviet-made MIG-21 jets, which are older than the F-4 Phantom planes, if the offer is accepted. The twin-engine US-built F-4 fighters, which entered service with the US Air Force in 1960, can fly for another couple of years before they are retired. If the offer is not accepted, Croatia could soon be left without jets to protect its skies. (Source: airforcetechnology.com)
09 Mar 11. Liam Fox is locked in talks with the Treasury to bail-out a defence budget that has reached “crisis point”, with a £500m black hole this year from an incomplete deal to sell Typhoon fighter jets to Oman. The defence secretary’s frank admission that he inherited an “unmanageable” budget comes at a critical time in negotiations to avert last October’s strategic defence review from being prematurely reopened. Mr Fox told the Commons Defence Committee that a combination of “missing receipts” from Typhoon sales, increased fuel costs and currency fluctuations had forced him to seek Treasury dispensations to make his 2011 budget affordable. The revelations over th