17 Oct 16. Iraq and Syria: OP SHADER. On 10 Oct 16 Typhoons struck a tunnel complex and a mortar team around Mosul. On the same day, Tornados
destroyed an anti-tank missile position and weapons cache in the area. On 11 Oct 16 Tornados bombed a tunnel to the North West of Mosul. On the following day Tornados, Typhoons and a Reaper attacked multiple
targets in support of Iraqi Operations to isolate Mosul. On 14 Oct 16 a Reaper and Typhoons destroyed weapons and ammunition North West of Mosul. On 16 Oct 16 a Reaper engaged an artillery piece and Typhoons struck six Daesh positions. (MoD, 17 Oct 16.)
On 17 Oct 16 a Reaper destroyed an armed truck and three heavy weapons teams South East of Mosul as a Typhoon engaged a large truck bomb. On 18 Oct 16 Typhoons attacked targets North East of Mosul as a Reaper struck an armed truck and two groups of terrorists to the South East of the city. (MoD, 19 Oct 16.)
On 19 Oct 16 Typhoons and a Reaper provided close air support around Mosul. On 20 Oct 16 Tornados killed a group of terrorists in the Tigris Valley, South of Mosul as Typhoons and a Reaper continued to support troops to the North and East of the city. (MoD, 21 Oct 16.)
A UN report concluded that the Asad regime has used chemical weapons against the Syrian people on at least three occasions and that Daesh has used such weapons at least once. (FCO, 22 Oct 16.)
Comment: The BBC reported (21 Oct 16) that a flotilla of Russian warships was passing through the English Channel en route to Syria. HMS DUNCAN escorted by HMS RICHMOND sailed from Portsmouth on 18 Oct 16 to track the group led by the aircraft carrier ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV. The Russian flotilla will, it is assumed, strengthen the naval presence off the Syrian coast as well as providing air cover. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 16/41, 24 Oct 16)
21 Oct 16. Type 26 Frigates: Debate. The House of Commons “considered the timetable for building Type 26 frigates on the Clyde”. In concluding the debate, the Defence Procurement Minister confirmed that eight anti-submarine warfare ships are to be built by BAE Systems on the Clyde. The eight Type 26 are to replace the current eight anti-submarine warfare Type 23 frigates on a one-for-one basis. The capability currently provided by the five general-purpose Type 23 frigates is to be met “by a new Class of light, general-purpose frigates that will, by the 2030s, enable us to increase the overall number of frigates.”
Comment: Despite the fine words indicated above the Minister also said that she “was not in a position to give a specific date for when an agreement will be reached” with BAE Systems. However, the Minister was able to confirm that the long anticipated National Shipbuilding Strategy, led by Sir John Parker, is due to be published by the time of the Autumn Statement (which will be delivered on 23 Nov 16). The debate is recorded in Hansard for 18 Oct 16, starting in Column 303WH. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 16/41, 24 Oct 16)
20 Oct 16. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA): Replacement Vessels. In the House of Lords (20 Oct 16) the Minister of State said that the MoD “is actively reviewing its position to mitigate any potential impact on the Tide Class tanker programme” (following the reported financial problems of Daewoo Shipbuilding). The MoD is “continuing to review delivery timelines with the company and remain confident that all four tankers will be in service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary by the end of 2018.”
Comment: Despite the Minister’s assurances, the programme for delivery of the vessels appears to have slipped. (Further details were recorded in DNA 16/40 dated 17 Oct 16.) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 16/41, 24 Oct 16)
20 Oct 16. Cyber Security: Defence of Military Systems. The Defence Secretary announced (20 Oct 16) that £265m is to be invested “to boost the defence of military cyber systems”. The investment, which supports the new Cyber Vulnerability Investigations prog