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30 Nov 18. Iraq and Syria: OP SHADER. On 29 Oct 18 a Reaper destroyed a booby-trapped large fuel tank in Eastern Syria. On 4 Nov 18 Tornados struck four Daesh positions in Eastern Syria as Typhoons cratered a road to prevent terrorists moving truckbombs. On 5 Nov 18 Tornados bombed a pair of buildings used as a Daesh operating base and command post in Eastern Syria while on 7 Nov 18 Typhoons eliminated a terrorist observation post in the same area. Typhoons destroyed a Daesh ‘logistics facility’ and supposed ‘safe house’ in Eastern Syria on 10 Nov 18. Tornados attacked a terrorist-held compound in Eastern Syria on 12 Nov 18. On 15/16 Nov 18 Typhoons struck Daesh positions in Eastern Syria. (MoD, 26 Nov 18.)
Comment: The MoD has recorded that RAF aircraft continued to provide close air support to the Syrian Democratic Forces. Attacks have been conducted on the “one significant remaining area” held by Daesh in Eastern Syria. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/43, 03 Dec 18)
27 Nov 18. Ukraine: OP ORBITAL. The Armed Forces’ Minister provided (27 Nov 18) OP ORBITAL deployment figures: 2015/16 (712 personnel); 2016/17 (610); 2017/18 (317) and in 2018/19 to date (279). The majority of those who deploy on OP ORBITAL are from the Army and the figures include those deploying on multiple occasions. Alongside the OP ORBITAL training mission, the UK also deploys personnel from the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) to Ukraine, as well as Defence reform advisers on an ad hoc basis. In 2015/16 five BMATT personnel deployed; 2016/17 (10) and in 2018/19 (30). No BMATT personnel were deployed to Ukraine in 2017/18.
Comment: Following the Russian capture and injury of Ukrainian sailors in the Kerch Straits on 25 Nov 18, the Foreign Secretary issued a Statement (26 Nov 18) condemning Russia’s “act of aggression and seizure of three Ukrainian vessels”. The Foreign Secretary called on Russia to ensure freedom of passage through the Kerch Straits “and for all parties to exercise restraint”. There was a further Statement (27 Nov 18) by a Foreign Office Minister in the House of Commons. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/43, 03 Dec 18)
01 Dec 18. Galileo: UK to Withdraw. The Prime Minister confirmed (1 Dec 18) that the UK will not use Galileo for Defence or critical national infrastructure after leaving the EU. Instead the UK will explore options to develop its own Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and will work with the US to continue accessing its GPS system. The UK Space Agency is leading work on a UK GNSS, supported by the MoD. A UK system will provide both open and encrypted signals “giving it the same range of commercial and security applications as GPS and Galileo”.
Comment: Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, the Science and Universities Minister resigned from Government stating that he would no longer be supporting the Government on the EU Withdrawal Agreement. The Minister said: “The PM is right to call time on a negotiation that was stacked against us from the very beginning. But Galileo is only a foretaste of what’s to come under the Government’s Brexit deal.”. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/43, 03 Dec 18)
27 Nov 18. Qatar: Royal Marines (RM) Training Mission. The RN reported (27 Nov 18) that personnel from 40 Commando have undertaken the first exercise in Qatar as part of a six-year training mission to create a Qatari marine brigade.
Comment: The training exercise was supported by the amphibious ship RFA Lyme Bay, along with 539 Assault Squadron RM raiding craft specialists, Merlin helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron and troops from 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/43, 03 Dec 18)
26 Nov 18. Arctic Strategy: Publication Due. During Oral Answers (26 Nov 18) the Armed Forces’ Minister confirmed that officials are currently engaged in developing the UK Defence Arctic Strategy and that “we expect it to be published early next year”.
Comment: A new Arctic Strategy was announced by the Defence Secretary on 30 Sep 18. As part of the new Strategy, Royal Marines’ cold-weather training will become joint with Norway on a long-term basis. The RN also plans to mount regular under-ice submarine deployments in future. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/43, 03 Dec 18)
28 Nov 18. NATO: Rapid Reaction Forces. The Armed Forces’ Minister outlined (28 Nov 18) the UK’s contribution to NATO activities during 2018 and for 2019. In 2018 the UK committed a fighter bomber and air defence aircraft to both the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (Air) (VJTF(A)) and to the Initial Follow-on Forces Group (Air) (IFFG(A)). In addition, the UK provided airborne early warning, air-to-air refuelling and air transport. For 2019 the UK has committed to providing a similar level of capabilities. The UK also provided four Typhoon aircraft and a 150-strong Expeditionary Air Wing for NATO enhanced Air Policing to Romania for four months in 2018. In May 2019 the UK will undertake an Air Policing mission to the Baltic States and provide support to Air Policing in Iceland.
Comment: The Minister declined to provide certain details of the above NATO deployments “in order not to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces”. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/43, 03 Dec 18)
30 Nov 18. Type 26 Frigates: Final Ship Named. The Defence Secretary confirmed (29 Nov 18) that the eighth and final Type 26 global combat ship will be named HMS EDINBURGH. The announcement was made on the eve of St Andrew’s Day during a visit to Edinburgh where the Defence Secretary highlighted the importance of Scotland “to the United Kingdom’s Defence capabilities”. The Type 26 frigate will be the seventh ship to carry the HMS EDINBURGH title.
Comment: There was some confusion in the order of ships named following an MoD press release of 22 Nov 18 . The correct order is understood to be: HMS GLASGOW, HMS CARDIFF and HMS BELFAST, the first three ships to be ordered and forming Batch 1. Batch 2 will comprise HMS BIRMINGHAM, HMS LONDON, HMS SHEFFIELD, HMS NEWCASTLE and HMS EDINBURGH. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/43, 03 Dec 18)
22 Nov 18. Sandown-Class Minehunters: Sonar Upgrade. The Defence Procurement Minister advised (22 Nov 18) that Sandown-Class minehunters are currently undergoing a “technical refresh programme” during which all seven platforms are being updated with the Thales Type 2093 sonar. The first capability upgrade was completed in September 2018 (HMS GRIMSBY). Future capability upgrades are aligned with individual ship’s upkeep programme.
Comment: The enhanced Type 2093 sonar Wideband variant has been developed by Thales under the 2093 Capability Sustainment Programme for the RN. 2093 Wideband is a multi-frequency variable depth sonar system designed to counter the threat of modern mines in both deep and shallow water. According to the Company, 2093 Wideband provides “a step-change improvement in threat recognition capability and range”. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/43, 03 Dec 18)
29 Nov 18. Warships: Build Programme. The Government Defence Spokesman in the House of Lords confirmed (29 Nov 18) that there are currently two warships in build: HMS PRINCE OF WALES and HMS GLASGOW. Two warships are on order (HMS CARDIFF and HMS BELFAST) with build yet to commence.
Comment: The Minister also confirmed plans to award a contract for five Type 31e frigates by December 2019 and a contract for the five Batch 2 Type 26 frigates in the early 2020s. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 18/43, 03 Dec 18)
30 Nov 18. UK will not use EU’s Galileo for defence, key infrastructure post-Brexit – May. Britain will not use the European Union’s Galileo space project for defence or critical national infrastructure after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday. A row over Galileo, which the bloc is developing to rival the U.S. Global Positioning System, erupted earlier this year when London accused the EU of shutting British businesses out of the project before Britain’s exit next March. The EU has said its rules prohibit it sharing sensitive security information with countries outside the bloc.
Britain will explore options to build its own Global Navigation Satellite System to help guide military drones, run energy networks and provide essential services for civilian smart phones, May’s office said. It will also work with the United States to continue accessing its GPS system.
“I have been clear from the outset that the UK will remain firmly committed to Europe’s collective security after Brexit,” May, who is attending the G20 Summit in Argentina, said in a statement.
“But given the Commission’s decision to bar the UK from being fully involved in developing all aspects of Galileo it is only right that we find alternatives.”
Britain told the EU earlier this year it would demand the repayment of up to 1 billion pounds if the bloc restricted its access to Galileo.
A senior British official said the question of past contributions was still a “live issue” which would be discussed as part of talks on Britain’s future relationship with the bloc.
In August, Britain said its UK Space Agency, with support from the Ministry of Defence, would start work on an alternative satellite system to Galileo to ensure its national security if it were barred from equal access to the EU programme after Brexit, setting aside 92 million pounds for it.
“I cannot let our armed services depend on a system that we cannot be sure of. That would not be in our national interest,” May said.
UK will not use EU’s Galileo for defence, key infrastructure post-Brexit – May
Britain will not use the European Union’s Galileo space project for defence or critical national infrastructure after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday.
A row over Galileo, which the bloc is developing to rival the U.S. Global Positioning System, erupted earlier this year when London accused the EU of shutting British businesses out of the project before Britain’s exit next March.
The EU has said its rules prohibit it sharing sensitive security information with countries outside the bloc.
Britain will explore options to build its own Global Navigation Satellite System to help guide military drones, run energy networks and provide essential services for civilian smart phones, May’s office said. It will also work with the United States to continue accessing its GPS system.
“I have been clear from the outset that the UK will remain firmly committed to Europe’s collective security after Brexit,” May, who is attending the G20 Summit in Argentina, said in a statement.
“But given the Commission’s decision to bar the UK from being fully involved in developing all aspects of Galileo it is only right that we find alternatives.”
Britain told the EU earlier this year it would demand the repayment of up to 1 billion pounds if the bloc restricted its access to Galileo.
A senior British official said the question of past contributions was still a “live issue” which would be discussed as part of talks on Britain’s future relationship with the bloc.
In August, Britain said its UK Space Agency, with support from the Ministry of Defence, would start work on an alternative satellite system to Galileo to ensure its national security if it were barred from equal access to the EU programme after Brexit, setting aside 92 million pounds for it.
“I cannot let our armed services depend on a system that we cannot be sure of. That would not be in our national interest,” May said. (Source: Reuters)
29 Nov 18. Angela Merkel Sidesteps Military Aid to Ukraine. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has condemned Russia for seizing three Ukrainian ships in the Sea of Azov. But she failed to offer any military support to Ukraine or further economic sanctions against Russia. Angela Merkel has reiterated Germany’s support for Ukraine in the ongoing standoff between Russia and Ukraine over three ships seized on Sunday, though she did not threaten any further action against Russia, either in terms of military aid or sanctions.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko took to Germany’s Bild newspaper to ask Merkel to send navy ships to the Sea of Azov “to provide security,” and accused Russia of wanting “nothing less than to occupy the sea.”
Speaking at the third German-Ukrainian Economic Forum on Thursday, the German chancellor did not offer any direct answer to Poroshenko’s request. Instead, the chancellor reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to Ukraine, and put the blame for the current crisis squarely on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
She pointed out that Russia and Ukraine agreed a shipping treaty in 2003 that grants both countries full use of the Kerch Strait leading into the Sea of Azov, although both sides also have rights of inspection in the waters. A bridge that Russia built to the annexed Crimean Peninsula has impeded the free movement of ships, Merkel said.
“Since this bridge was opened in May this year, shipping conditions have worsened,” the chancellor complained. “Of course, I want the facts of what happened to be put on the table, that the soldiers are set free, and that their confessions aren’t forced out of them, as we saw on TV now.”
Speaking before Merkel at the forum, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman condemned “Russian aggression.” He said, “This is now the fifth year that Russia has disregarded international law.”
Economic help, but no military support
Towards the end of the speech, Merkel did suggest only one way that Germany might apply extra pressure on Russia: by suggesting that European countries reduce the amount of gas they buy from Russia via its various pipelines: Nordstream and Turkstream.
Nevertheless, Merkel expressed sympathy for Ukraine’s dire situation: inevitable economic difficulties in the wake of the 2014 revolution, coupled with the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the subsequent military conflict with Russian-backed separatists in the country’s eastern regions.
She also explained why Germany was maintaining its economic sanctions against Russia, even though plenty of German businesses wouldn’t mind seeing them lifted. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is about principles,” she told the forum. “We don’t have these sanctions for their own sake; we have these sanctions to make clear that countries have the right to their own development, even if they’re close to Russia – this is a principle of international law.”
She added, “because it’s often forgotten,” that Ukraine had decided by referendum to become independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Crimea had decided then to belong to Ukraine. She also pointed out that Ukraine had given up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons in exchange for territorial assurances from the international community, including Russia. “That’s why we have a duty to stand up for what we promised,” she said.
The Minsk Protocol of September 2014, agreed on by Russia, Ukraine, and separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk, secured a ceasefire, but it is regularly broken by both sides, and the conflict is still claiming the lives of an average of one soldier a day. “The Minsk agreement prevented constant further escalations in the last few years, but it did not get us any closer to a political solution, and it did not get Ukraine access to its actual borders,” Merkel said.
For its part, Russia says Ukraine has not fulfilled its side of the Minsk bargain: ensuring local elections on autonomy in the separatist regions. (Source: defense-aerospace.com/Deutsche Welle German Radio)
30 Nov 18. U.S. State Department approves sale of new artillery rocket system to Poland. The U.S. State Department approved the sale of 20 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers to Poland to strengthen security in the region and modernise the country’s military, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. Poland asked to buy the HIMARS system, produced by Lockheed Martin, last year.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally which is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the DSCA said in a statement released late on Thursday.
The DSCA leads U.S. efforts to train and equip allies.
Poland’s Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed off on a new programme to update the country’s military on Wednesday, including strengthened cybersecurity and new air defence and long-range missile systems.
The purchase of the HIMARS launchers and related equipment, estimated to cost around $655m, is part of this upgrade. “This is a big step towards finalising this breakthrough contract for the Polish army,” Blaszczak tweeted on Friday. Poland’s armed forces have suffered from decades of under-investment and some two-thirds of their equipment dates from the Soviet era. The country has long vowed to increase defence spending, in part to deter what it sees as Russian aggression in the region, and wants to increase the presence of American troops on its territory. In a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in September, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda said Poland was ready to invest $2bn to facilitate the development of a permanent base. Duda also said he wants government plans to increase defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030 to be speeded up to 2024 if the economy permits. NATO has requested member countries spend at least 2 percent of their GDP on defence. (Source: Reuters)
28 Nov 18. Consolidate or become obsolete, German official tells European arms makers. European weapons makers to consolidate, the German government’s armaments director said on Wednesday, and warned that failing to reduce the continent’s fragmented defense industry could make Europe obsolete. Arms makers need to move beyond mere cooperation agreements and deepen ties, Benedikt Zimmer told hundreds of industry executives and military and government officials at the Berlin Security Conference, and said the drive was supported by the top levels of the German government.
“You can call me a dreamer, but if we don’t get it done, we are on the best way to making Europe obsolete,” Zimmer said.
The German call for consolidation is significant — it was the German government that in 2012 blocked the merger of Britain’s BAE Systems and Airbus, worried that it could result in the loss of high-paying jobs. Mergers in sensitive areas such as defense must be approved by national governments and European Union authorities, so a green light from Germany could help stimulate more M&A activity, industry executives said.
In a separate speech in Berlin, German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz echoed Zimmer’s comments, saying European Union member states should work together more closely on arms procurement to save money and become more effective. Mergers would also have to occur, he said.
“It’s no secret: There will be and there must be consolidation in the European armaments industry,” Scholz said.
Scholz, a member of the Social Democrats, who often oppose exports of German arms, said a unified European approach would also ease pressure on companies to export their goods to sometimes problematic buyer countries outside Europe.
“If the European market for weapons grows, exports will become less important,” Scholz said.
Scholz also backed a push by French President Emmanuel Macron to move toward creation of a European army, adding that deployments would still have to be approved by national parliaments.
Zimmer said rapidly increasing costs of new weapons systems could help drive change and provide new impetus to consolidate the large number of makers of disparate tanks, fighter aircraft and other equipment now built and operated in Europe.
In the past, he said, there had been a bit of a stalemate – industry and political leaders each deferred to one another, and none pressed ahead.
He said it would take time, but industry could play a constructive role in offering more unified weapons programs that could help reduce the “national walls” that currently protected each respective country’s industrial players. Zimmer also acknowledged concerns about the slow pace of weapons procurement in Germany, and called for a more differentiated approach that minimized risk but did not insist on so-called “gold-plated” solutions. (Source: Reuters)
28 Nov 18. TLVS JV expecting German MEADS contract in 2019. The Tactical Air Defence System (Taktische Luftverteidigungssystem: TLVS) GmbH joint venture (JV) of Lockheed Martin and MBDA expects the German government to award the long-awaited contract for its Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) sometime next year. Speaking to Jane’s at the Berlin Security Conference 2018, Lockheed Martin’s Director Business Development Air and Missile Defense, Martin Coyne, said that with the JV now studying the second request for proposals (RFPs) for the TLVS ground-based air defence requirement, a final offering will be presented to the Bundeswehr in the second quarter of 2019, with a contract expected to follow.
“The TLVS programme now has the full support of the German parliament and has been included in the 2019 budget line. It is currently going through the new acquisition reform designed to reduce risk in the negotiation phase, which is why it is taking longer than anticipated,” Coyne said.
Lockheed Martin and MBDA have been working on MEADS since the early 2000s, although the programme itself dates back to the early 1990s as a means to replace the Lockheed Martin/Raytheon MIM-104 Patriot system in the US, the HAWK in Germany, and the NIKE in Italy.
MEADS is designed to provide a 360° homeland and battlefield intercept capability against airborne threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and aircraft. A typical system comprises the Patriot Advanced 3 (PAC-3) MSE interceptor missile, the MEADS surveillance radar, the MEADS X-Band multifunctional fire-control radar (MFCR), the MEADS launcher, and a tactical operations centre. As noted in Jane’s Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, the MEADS kill zone extends to a range of 35km and to an altitude of 118,110ft. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
28 Nov 18. Airbus says Brexit deal would revive its UK investment plans. Airbus, the European aerospace group, said it has been in a “holding pattern” with “nothing new” invested in the UK over the past year amid uncertainty over the terms of Britain’s departure from the European Union. Katherine Bennett, senior vice-president at Airbus UK which employs 14,000 people in Britain, on Wednesday said Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement would allow the company to invest again. “If the withdrawal agreement is successful in some form or another, then Airbus would consider continuing to invest as the company has done over many years,” Ms Bennett told MPs on the Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee. “We have great capability . . . but obviously because of the uncertainty, which we want to see reversed, that is why investments have been put on hold,” she added. Airbus, which has previously warned it would have to reconsider its investments in the UK in the event of Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal, has spent €15m so far on preparing for a no-deal exit, Ms Bennett disclosed. “I would rather that money could have been spent elsewhere,” she said. Paul Everitt, chief executive of ADS Group, which represents the UK aerospace, defence and space sectors, told the committee the withdrawal agreement “definitely doesn’t take us back to business as usual”. “For us it’s not as good as it is today and it won’t ever be as good as it is today. But it is an awful lot better than the chaos that we would see leaving the EU without a deal,” he added. Ms Bennett also warned that British industry risked losing out on a potential €1bn benefit if it was not able to take part in the next stage of the Copernicus earth observation programme. Airbus is currently bidding to take part in the next stage of the Europe-wide programme through its sites in Portsmouth and Stevenage. However, under current rules, non-EU nationals are not allowed to work on the project raising the prospect that once Britain leaves the European Union next March Airbus’ UK sites will not be able to take part. Airbus has had to move 80 jobs to Europe to be able to complete its final contract on the Galileo space navigation project. “We feel we have a great case to put on the table,” said Ms Bennett, noting that the political declaration that accompanied the draft withdrawal agreement last week mentioned the potential for consideration of “appropriate arrangements on space co-operation, including satellite navigation”. The line, she added, was “important”. The UK government was continuing to support Airbus in its bid. (Source: FT.com)
28 Nov 18. Eurofighter key to securing European defence industrial sovereignty – CEO. The multinational Eurofighter project is key to securing Europe’s defence industrial sovereignty as efforts shift to developing the next-generation of combat aircraft, the consortium’s CEO said on 28 November. Speaking at the Berlin Security Conference, Eurofighter CEO Volker Paltzo said that the project has been “the glue” for Europe’s defence industry over the previous decades, and that it will continue to be the foundation for the continent’s future defence industrial collaboration as work begins to develop the Next-Generation Fighter (NGF) as part of the wider Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
“The Eurofighter is the current and future backbone of European defence,” he said. “It has acted as a catalyst for industrial co-operation, and Europe needs more projects like this [that afford it] a sovereign defence capability.”
The Eurofighter Typhoon is Europe’s largest defence project, with 623 aircraft ordered across nine nations. Of these, 549 have been delivered and more than 500,000 hours flown. There are further potential orders for some of the core nations of Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom that will take production well into the 2030s, and the aircraft itself will remain in service through to the 2060s. “As we continue to develop new technologies and capabilities, the Eurofighter will serve as a natural bridge into the FCAS project,” Paltzo said. “For the long-term evolution of the Eurofighter we have a clear capability roadmap to maintain the aircraft’s relevance for years to come.”
This roadmap has already begun, Paltzo said, noting the work in the UK to cross-deck the air-to-ground capabilities of the Panavia Tornado under the Royal Air Force’s Project Centurion. These capability enhancements could serve also as a technological pathway to the continent’s future fighter efforts, Paltzo noted, with upgrades being considered including satellite communications, enhanced datalinks, low-observable (LO) communications compatibility, large area display, helmet-mounted displays, as well as improvements to the Eurojet EJ200 powerplant for greater thrust, efficiency, and weapons carriage. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
27 Nov 18. U.K. Relationship With U.S., Role in Global Defense Unlikely to Change After Brexit. The United Kingdom’s security relationship with the United States will remain “exceptional, uniquely wide and deep” even as the U.K. prepares to depart from the European Union next year, Britain’s top envoy to the United States said. That relationship, Kim Darroch said Monday at the Hudson Institute in Washington, is built on trade, security, culture and more. Zeroing in on security, Darroch said the two are tied to $150bn in trade agreements for the next 10 years covering weapons and systems from F-35s, P-8A Poseidon aircrafts, ballistic-missile submarines and nuclear modernization programs.
As for support of the continued strong relationship between the two nations in the future, he added, “we find open doors and welcomes” from both sides of the political aisle in Congress and from administrations of both parties. He said he saw no reason for that situation to change after Brexit.
Building a new trade relationship with the United States, London’s largest commercial partner, after Brexit will “be the country’s number-one priority.” Darroch added.
“It can be much bigger – no quotas, no tariffs,” and “the removal of barriers on services” in the financial sector could provide additional opportunities.
Even after the departure from the EU, the United Kingdom intends to remain a global power. Darroch noted it “is a permanent member of the Security Council, the second biggest contributor to NATO” and “is a global player in defense,” with forces stationed in dozens of countries.
When it comes to the U.S.’s two primary threats, Russia and China, Darroch said the United Kingdom is “in a good place” with China despite past clashes over claims in the South China Sea, but the U.K. has poor relations with Russia that aren’t likely to improve in the near-term. He said the United Kingdom’s freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) in the South China Sea are “not intended as a provocation” but rather a demonstration of London’s support of international law and norms.
“We believe the way forward is through engagement,” he added.
But in dealing with Moscow, Darroch said, “the relationship is not good.”
He reminded the attendees of the Kremlin’s use of lethal nerve agents in trying to assassinate a former Russian spy and his daughter in March in the U.K. and of Moscow’s continued support of separatists in Ukraine, including a naval confrontation Sunday in the Sea of Azov.
Darroch, who served as national security adviser to former Prime Minister David Cameron, said that tension with Russia “is not going to change for us” until the Kremlin changes its behavior.
Several defense and economic issues become entangled for the U.K.: the country has and will continue to have after the Brexit tough economic sanctions against Russian citizens, companies and institutions imposed as punishment for Russia’s aggressive behavior in Ukraine. The United States and EU have been working in harmony on Ukraine and threats to other Russian neighbors.
The United Kingdom is also working with the international community to restore peace and security in Syria especially and Libya secondarily in the Middle East, but Darroch didn’t spell out details on how these goals might be achieved as Russia launched new air attacks backing Bashar al-Assad’s regime in the Syrian civil war.
When asked about Great Britain’s support for South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s efforts to woo North Korea’s leadership into ending its nuclear weapons program, he said London “basically strongly supports” that work, but “we haven’t seen yet real denuclearization.”
He added that, because the United Kingdom maintain an embassy in Pyongyang, “we know what effect the sanctions are having.” Until the North Koreans take serious steps toward ending that part of their weapons program, “sanctions are the right policy” to continue.
During a question and answer period, many questions came back to the ticking clock of Brexit in March and what would happen as a result of the EU departure.
One possibility, Darroch said, was expansion of bilateral trade and security agreements among the Commonwealth nations, all once part of the British empire. Among those countries are Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India. He said London’s membership in the EU had hampered these efforts in the past.
This weekend, the EU accepted the deal that would set the conditions for London’s withdrawal; next, the British Parliament must accept it as written or leave the union without any agreement.
Darroch noted the government has been “carefully avoiding saying what they would be doing” if that deal is voted down.
But “quite a lot of people think this is the best way forward,” and support for it at Westminster appears to be growing.
Darroch added that London would still be engaged in security, trade, commercial and financial arrangement with the EU even if the pact is defeated. London would work on new agreements with various countries on the continent during the 19-month transition period called for in the accord or in the aftermath of a parliamentary defeat. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/USNI)
24 Nov 18. The security and defence threat posed by May’s Brexit deal. Far-reaching and dangerous changes are buried in the draft withdrawal agreement Emmanuel Macron and Theresa May honour soldiers who died in battle during the first world war at a ceremony in Thiepval, France. In the heat of negotiations about our future relationship with the EU, the fact that the UK is Europe’s leading defence, security and intelligence power has gone largely unmentioned. Now we discover that, within the draft political declaration and other withdrawal documents, these powerful advantages may be compromised rather than leveraged. This might in part explain why both Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel have also chosen the Brexit moment to revive the idea of a European army. The historical view of the UK’s relationship with the European mainland shows that it has been determined much more by geopolitics than by trade. Since Britain joined the EU — a relatively recent event — successive Conservative, Labour and coalition governments have been careful to ensure that the EU did not develop any serious national security or defence capabilities that might impinge on our own. We have on occasion been willing to make favourable noises about the Common Security and Defence Policy. But in reality we have always put Nato first, relied primarily in defence on our bilateral links with the US and regarded “Five Eyes” (the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) as our crucial intelligence and security alliance. A close examination of the “administrative agreements” and “participation criteria” suggests that when they are taken together they require full subordination of the UK to the EU defence rule book. That means the draft withdrawal document actually commits us to a European defence role without any say in its formulation, and would effectively end the UK’s successful policy of denying the European Commission the development of a military or security role. Herein lies the fundamental national security dilemma of every government of the past 100 years: to what extent and in what way should the UK involve itself directly in the security of the European mainland in anticipation of a crisis yet to develop? The Brexit debate has been framed around the single issue of the nation’s economic wellbeing, the value of the pound and our place in the “just in time” manufacturing supply chain. But defence and security, which are arguably more important, particularly if one looks a little further ahead than the next two or three years, are treated as a side issue. Some far-reaching and dangerous changes are buried in the political declaration and the terms of the defence treaty that was promised in a technical note dated May 24. Theresa May agrees draft text on future relationship with the EU At a practical level, France and the UK have developed a very close and successful partnership to fill the EU’s own security and defence gap. Together, the two countries represent more than half of Europe’s defence capability. Their intelligence and security communities dominate the European security landscape. The relationship is highly pragmatic: it is not institutionalised and can respond flexibly to the variety of new and shifting national security threats that Europe faces today — especially terrorism. The current Anglo-French relationships are important to a safe future for Europe as a whole. The only areas where the relationship may have to change after Brexit is in some aspect of policing, justice and data sharing. These are currently regulated from Brussels, but could be easily and uncontroversially replicated bilaterally. Mr Macron’s controversial revival of the idea of a European army may have been goaded by US president Donald Trump, but it also reminds us that in areas of its national security France has always aspired to remain as far as possible unbeholden to other nations. France’s relationship with Nato has been nuanced — and perhaps not that different from the UK’s pre-referendum relationship with the EU. Both wanted the benefits of membership with complete independence of action. In spite of these fundamental differences of policy, the two nations have co-operated successfully in the most sensitive areas of national security. The relationship is not in crisis, nor is it threatened by Brexit unless Mr Macron plans to pull the rug from under his bilateral relationship with the UK. Such self-harm should be unthinkable: France has no alternative European defence partner. Siren calls from Ms Merkel supporting the creation of a European army should cause us to reinforce our determination to continue to follow the defence and security policy that has served the UK, throughout our membership of the EU, so well. Recommended The balance of power Europe’s crises conceal opportunities to forge another path Every postwar European defence initiative has been stillborn. This is likely to remain the case for as long as Germany refuses to change fundamentally its attitude to defence spending. If Germany were willing to spend some of its huge trade surplus on defence then a European army would rapidly become a reality. It is easier for a politically lame German chancellor to talk up a European army than for another German politician who might actually have to create it. It is also difficult to imagine the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the Greens or the Social Democratic party (SPD) or any alliance of these parties being enthusiastic about espousing the project. In these uncertain times, however, it is significant that Ms Merkel has herself put the issue back on to the German political agenda. The UK should take careful note. Without any detailed national or parliamentary debate, the withdrawal documents raise deeply worrying questions about where it would leave the UK’s defence and security policy. Has the prime minister actually bargained away, without telling us, some of those assets to our national security in a manner that could weaken Five Eyes and our partnership with the US? The documents suggest that is so. Such a fundamental shift in the UK’s national security by a political sleight of hand would be a serious matter indeed. The British people did not vote for Brexit in order to weaken our most important Anglosphere alliances; the result of the referendum would rather imply that they wanted them strengthened. (Source: FT.com)
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About Lincad
Lincad is a leading expert in the design and manufacture of batteries, chargers and associated products for a range of applications across a number of different sectors. With a heritage spanning more than three decades in the defence and security sectors, Lincad has particular expertise in the development of reliable, ruggedised products with high environmental, thermal and electromagnetic performance. With a dedicated team of engineers and production staff, all product is designed and manufactured in-house at Lincad’s facility in Ash Vale, Surrey. Lincad is ISO 9001 and TickITplus accredited and works closely with its customers to satisfy their power management requirements.
Lincad is also a member of the Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register (JOSCAR), the accreditation system for the aerospace, defence and security sectors, and is certified with Cyber Essentials, the government-backed, industry supported scheme to help organisations protect themselves against common cyber attacks. The majority of Lincad’s products contain high energy density lithium-ion technology, but the most suitable technology for each customer requirement is employed, based on Lincad’s extensive knowledge of available electrochemistries. Lincad offers full life cycle product support services that include repairs and upgrades from point of introduction into service, through to disposal at the end of a product’s life. From product inception, through to delivery and in-service product support, Lincad offers the high quality service that customers expect from a recognised British supplier.
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