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27 Sep 17. Iraq and Syria: OP SHADER. The MoD reported (27 Sep 17) that the RAF “has marked the third anniversary of the first UK airstrikes against Daesh by continuing operations against the false caliphate”. Since 2014 the RAF has achieved 1,340 strikes against Daesh in Iraq and 262 in Syria. More than 8,000 sorties have been flown providing strikes, surveillance and reconnaissance, air-to-air refuelling and transport.
Comment: Daesh is said to have lost 73% of the territory which it once occupied in Iraq and 65% of its former territory in Syria. More than five and a half million people have been “freed from Daesh’s rule” while some two million displaced Iraqi civilians have returned home. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/35, 02 Oct 17)
24 Sep 17. Caribbean: Relief Effort. During a visit to the Caribbean, the International Development Secretary announced a £5m aid package to
Dominica, the island worst hit by Hurricane Maria. The additional pledge brings the UK’s financial support to the islands hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria to a total of £62m. (DfID, 24 Sep 17.)
After delivering assistance to Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, HMS OCEAN has been focused on helping the people of Dominica. The ship has been providing aid, supplies and engineering support to the island as well as assisting with the evacuation of 39 vulnerable Britons. (RN, 28 Sep 17.)
RAF personnel serving on exchange with the US Air Force have been assisting with relief efforts in the region, flying C-17 aircraft loaded with stores and medical supplies. (RAF, 28 Sep 17.)
Comment: The Foreign Secretary chaired (27 Sep 17) the first meeting of the Interministerial Group on Recovery which is overseeing UK support to British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean. The new Ministerial
group will agree and co-ordinate the Governments approach to supporting the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
(Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/35, 02 Oct 17)
27 Sep 17. HMS BELFAST: Named. During a visit to Northern Ireland (27 Sep 17), the Defence Secretary announced the name of one of the Type 26 frigates as HMS BELFAST. The second to be named in the City Class of eight anti-submarine warfare frigates, HMS BELFAST “will provide advanced protection for the likes of the UK’s nuclear deterrent and Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers”.
Comment: The original HMS BELFAST was commissioned in 1938 and became a museum ship in 1971, permanently docked in London. The original HMS BELFAST is to be renamed HMS BELFAST 1938 before the new ship commissions. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/35, 02 Oct 17)
24 Sep 17. Missile Defence: EX FORMIDABLE SHIELD. NATO announced that a major air and missile defence Exercise started in the Western Isles on 24 Sep 17. EX FORMIDABLE SHIELD, which runs until 18 Oct 17, involves ships and aircraft from: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK and the US. 14 ships, 10 aircraft and some 3,300 personnel are involved in the Exercise. EX FORMIDABLE SHIELD sees Allied ships detecting, tracking and defending against a range of anti-ship and ballistic missiles using NATO command and control procedures.
Comment: The MoD and QinetiQ have recently invested £60m in the Hebrides Range, modernising the equipment and facilities. An additional £16.8m is to be invested in two BAE Systems’ tracking radars to be installed on St Kilda and also to upgrade two existing radars at MoD Hebrides.
(Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 17/35, 02 Oct 17)
28 Sep 17. SIPRI Yearbook 2017: Publication. SIPRI Yearbook 2017 presents data in areas such as: world military expenditure; international arms transfers; arms production; nuclear forces; armed conflicts and multilateral peace operations.
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