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09 Jan 18. Political Appointments: Ministry of Defence (MoD). Mrs H Baldwin MP has been moved to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in a Ministerial Reshuffle
(9 Jan 18). Mrs Baldwin was replaced in the MoD by Mr G Bebb MP. The MoD’s Ministerial team is thus:-
• The Rt Hon G A Williamson CBE MP – Secretary of State for Defence.
• The Rt Hon Earl Howe – Minister of State for Defence (unpaid).
• The Rt Hon J M Lancaster TD MP – Minister of State for the Armed Forces.
• The Rt Hon T M Ellwood MP – Parliamentary Under Secretary of State & Minister for Defence People
and Veterans.
• G Bebb Esq MP – Parliamentary Under Secretary of State & Minister for Defence Procurement.
Comment: The MoD also announced (9 Jan 18) that Mr C (Charles) Forte has been appointed as the new MoD Chief Information Officer; responsible for the development of MoD strategy and policy on the operation of all
MoD Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
The MoD drew attention to a letter in ‘The Times’ newspaper (29 Dec 17) from the Chief of the General Staff who detailed the cut in the number of starred Officers (Brigadiers and above) from 141 to 85 over the last five
years and the reduction from nine to five two-star headquarters. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/02, 15 Jan 18)
08 Jan 18. Iraq and Syria: OP SHADER. On 12 Dec 17 a Reaper struck a group of terrorists firing on the Syrian Democratic Forces in the East of the Country. On 15 Dec 17 a Reaper conducted attacks on two groups of terrorists in Eastern Syria and assisted a coalition air strike which destroyed a vehicle and mortar. Typhoons bombed a number of Daesh extremists in Eastern Syria on 17 Dec 17 while on 23 Dec 17 a Reaper struck terrorists trying to conceal themselves. On 28 Dec 17 Tornados destroyed two buildings in Eastern Syria and on the following day Tornados dealt with two terrorist positions. On 6 Jan 18 Typhoons attacked Daesh accommodation in Eastern Syria. On 7 Jan 18 a
Reaper struck terrorists in Eastern Syria as Typhoons hit a cave sheltering Daesh extremists. (MoD, 8 Jan 18.)
Comment: The MoD stated (8 Jan 18) that RAF aircraft had flown Operational sorties against Daesh terrorists “on every day of the winter holiday period, with the major focus remaining the provision of reconnaissance and close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces in and around the Euphrates Valley.” (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/02, 15 Jan 18)
20 Dec 17. Nuclear Deterrent: Dreadnought Update. The MoD published (20 Dec 17) its annual update on the UK’s Future Nuclear Deterrent (the Dreadnought Programme). The programme remains within its £31,000m budget and £4,300m has been spent so far on the design and early manufacture phase (with £900m having been spent during the 2016/17 financial year).
Comment: The report confirms that whole boat design is now 84% complete and that the design and manufacture of the Pressurised Water Reactor 3 remains on track. All components for the nuclear steam production system for the first Dreadnought submarine will be delivered to BAE Systems in Barrow by early 2018. (BAE Systems is working with Rolls-Royce and Babcock International as the Tier One industrial partners
on the project.) The Policy Paper ‘The United Kingdom’s Future Nuclear Deterrent: The Dreadnought Programme 2017 Update to Parliament’ can be accessed through the Government web portal (www.gov.uk).
A House of Commons Library Briefing Paper, (No 80166) entitled ‘The cost of the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent’ was published on 8 Dec 17 and can be accessed on the web (www.parliament.uk/commons-library)
(Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/02, 15 Jan 18)
10 Jan 18. HMS SUTHERLAND: Departs for Asia-Pacific Region. The RN advised (10 Jan 18) that the Type 23 frigate HMS