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EUROPE
23 Nov 12. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. The Danish Military Police and Bastion Force Protection Security Squadron work closely together and ensure that personnel share best practice. (RAF, 23 Nov 12.)
No decisions have been taken on the return of equipment from Afghanistan. (Written Answer (WA), 26 Nov 12.)
“Our intention is to extract all equipment whose value to the Armed Forces is greater than the cost of extraction and recuperation.” (Oral Answer (OA), 26 Nov 12.)
“….UK troops will support the continuing development of the Afghan National Security Forces by mentoring trainers….some troops will remain in a non-combat role after the end of 2014 to complete the recovery of equipment….we will not be involved in a combat role after 31 Dec 14.” (OA, 26 Nov 12.)
RAF firefighters have been training Afghans to take a lead for fire safety in Camp Shorabak, next to Camp Bastion. (MoD, 26 Nov 12.)
The MoD refuted Channel 4 News claims on 26 Nov 12 about the safety of Jackal vehicles. (MoD, 27 Nov 12.)
Among the visitors recently hosted by No 7 Force Protection Wing were the Chief of the Defence Staff, the First Sea Lord and (007) Daniel Craig. (RAF Ops Update, 29 Nov 12.)
The MoD is to maintain its moratorium on UK Forces transferring detainees to the Afghan authorities. (MoD, 29 Nov 12.)
Comment: The German Cabinet approved a plan (28 Nov 12) to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan to 3,300 by 31 Dec 13. (As at 8 Oct 12, there were 4,737 German troops declared to ISAF.)
(Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 12/47, 03 Dec 12)
29 Nov 12. National Security Strategy: Report on Progress. The Prime Minister presented (29 Nov 12) the second annual report of progress in implementing the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review. Highlights of the Defence equipment programme were given as: new Chinook helicopters, strategic airlift, new and upgraded armoured vehicles, the aircraft carrier programme and future submarines. The Prime Minister stressed that “we have now taken the first steps to resuscitate our Reserve Forces after a decade of neglect and underfunding, so that in future they can play a central role at home and overseas in protecting our national security interests”. Meanwhile, “Afghanistan remains the UK’s largest overseas military commitment”.
Comment: The report can be found in Hansard (29 Nov 12) as a Written Statement by the Prime Minister. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 12/47, 03 Dec 12)
22 Nov 12. French Arms Export Orders Increased by 27% in 2011.Export orders for French military equipment surged 27% in 2011 before governments in the mature countries of North America and Europe started to pare back their defense spending in a bid to shrink their budget deficits, according to a French government report issued Thursday. The report said French suppliers of military aircraft, naval vessels and defense equipment booked contracts worth a total of 6.52bn euros ($8.4bn) last year, up from EUR5.12bn in 2010. Despite the sharp rise, the 2011 total was still below the EUR8.16bn recorded in 2009 and was in line with the 2008 figure of EUR6.58bn. (Source: glstrade.com/WSJ)
23 Nov 12. Finland has joined Sweden in provisionally agreeing to form a pan-Nordic Air-Policing unit (NAP), headed by NATO neighbors Denmark and Norway, which will police Icelandic airspace on a rotation basis. The Finnish government, which insists its role does not signal any change in its policy of military non-alignment, will seek final approval to participate in the NAP in December. The NAP’s first operations are due to commence in 2013. (Source: Defense News)
26 Nov 12. UK MoD to begin assessment phase of Crowsnest programme in