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07 Sep 23. Strategic Command Strengthens UK-Japan Partnership.
General Jim Hockenhull visited Tokyo to discuss shared threats and opportunities for collaboration. General Jim Hockenhull , Commander Strategic Command, with General Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of Staff for Japan Joint Staff.
Working collaboratively with like-minded nations across the globe is vital as we tackle increasingly complex and borderless threats. The partnership between Japan and the United Kingdom is an important example of this.
As part of this relationship, General Jim Hockenhull visited Tokyo to meet officials from across the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Discussions spanned the regional threats, and opportunities for even further collaboration. From larger, more frequent and complex joint exercises, to enhancing our cyber capabilities through a UK-Japan Cyber Partnership, the UK and Japan are committed to continue working ever more closely together.
In May 2023, the Prime Ministers of Japan and the UK signed the Hiroshima Accord – a landmark new global strategic partnership – which included new agreements on defence, trade, science and technology collaboration, and joint working on tackling global issues like climate change.
Strategic Command has an important role to play in this partnership, being responsible for many of the most specialist and high-tech capabilities in Defence. People are central to this, and General Hockenhull spoke with his counterparts about enhanced ways to share knowledge and expertise between the UK and Japan militaries, and shared training and education opportunities.
Find out more about The Hiroshima Accord: An enhanced UK-Japan global strategic partnership – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-hiroshima-accord
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
06 Sep 23. SHAPE Engages with Finland, NATO’s Newest Ally. A delegation of Finnish policy makers visited Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) on 30 Aug and engaged with SHAPE leaders on a variety of topics including NATO operations, the ‘Deter and Defend’ concept, and cyber / hybrid threats. Finland Contributes to Deterrence and Defence.
“I am very pleased to welcome this delegation of leaders from the newest member of the Alliance,” said Admiral Joachim Rühle, SHAPE Chief of Staff.
“NATO and Finland worked closely as partners for many years, and today we stand together as Allies. Your accession has made our Alliance stronger, and your citizens safer”
High-level visits between SHAPE and national delegations offer an excellent platform to exchange views and enhance understanding on ongoing topics of mutual interest, including collective defence and current security considerations. This is particularly the case with Finland, who joined the Alliance on 4 April 2023, after almost 30 years of close partnership with NATO. Finland’s partnership with NATO was historically based on its policy of military non-alignment, which changed following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. For many years prior to its accession, Finland had been one of NATO’s most active partners and a valued contributor to NATO-led operations and missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Finnish Support for NATO-led operations and missions
Finland first participated in a NATO-led operation in 1996 when it contributed a battalion to the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina. From 2002, Finnish soldiers worked alongside Allied forces in Afghanistan – first as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which completed its mission at the end of 2014, and later as part of the follow-on Resolute Support Mission (RSM) to further train, assist and advise the Afghan security forces and institutions until its completion in September 2021. Finland also contributed over USD 14 m to the Afghan National Army Trust Fund. Finland provides personnel to the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR). Finland has also participated in NATO Mission Iraq (NMI), NATO’s advisory and capacity-building mission in Iraq. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe)
06 Sep 23. Serbia: Treaty with ASEAN unlikely to affect relations with Europe. On September 4, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic signed a cooperation treaty with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN in Jakarta. The move follows an official request to sign a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2013. This step could be seen as an attempt by Serbia to reduce dependence on Europe, especially given recent tensions. However, this is highly unlikely as Serbia’s trade with ASEAN countries amounts to less than USD 1 bn, whereas trade with Europe totals around USD 50 bn. Additionally, other European states such as France and Germany have also signed the treaty in the past, while Sweden has expressed its intention to do so. As such, Dacic’s statement that the treaty does not affect Serbia’s primary foreign policy goal of joining the EU is almost certainly a reflection of the government’s position. (Source: Sibylline)
05 Sep 23. UK strengthens defence export ties with Poland.
The UK and Poland have strengthened their defence ties today as Defence Minister James Cartlidge visited MSPO in Kielce, Poland.
- Defence Minister James Cartlidge attends Poland’s largest defence trade show.
- UK deepening defence ties with key Nato Ally, building on furthering of cooperation with Poland through export contracts and deployments.
- Celebrating positive step in Poland’s NAREW ground-based air defence programme.
The UK and Poland have strengthened their defence ties today as Defence Minister James Cartlidge visited MSPO in Kielce, Poland.
The largest defence trade fair in Poland, attracting delegations from across the world, MSPO brings together nations to collaborate on, discuss and view some of the world’s leading defence equipment, capabilities and ambitions.
During the visit, Cartlidge met with the Head of Poland’s National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, and Deputy Defence Minister Michał Wiśniewski, and engaged a number of the UK’s key Defence companies displaying at the event – including MBDA, Babcock and BAE Systems. Cartlidge discussed how the UK defence industry can further support the Polish Armed Forces through future defence exports and deployments.
The UK and Poland are historic defence partners and NATO Allies and will continue to work closely together on key strategic defence programmes, including Poland’s air defence programme, supporting the economies of both nations.
Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said:
Poland is one of our closest Allies and a key strategic partner as we work together to bolster European security in the wake of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Through crucial defence export programmes, we continue to support Poland’s defence modernisation plans, as they strengthen their defence capabilities.
Earlier this year, the UK and Poland announced the first stage of a programme to deliver the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) to Poland in a £1.9 bn contract – the largest ever defence export contract between the two nations.
In a contract supporting hundreds of jobs across the UK and Poland delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, UK firm MBDA completed the landmark deal with the Polish government in April 2023, agreeing to provide Poland with cutting-edge, ground-based-air-defence capabilities that will protect the country for generations to come.
Today, at MSPO, the Polish government signed an agreement with Polish defence company PGZ, paving the way for Poland to develop another enhanced ground-based air defence system called NAREW, again in co-operation with MBDA.
The UK welcomes the news that the executive agreement on NAREW has been signed between the Polish Ministry of National Defence and PGZ. This is a critical milestone in this important air defence programme which the UK MOD continues to support.
This visit also builds on the UK-Polish Defence Treaty and the UK–Poland Defence and Security Strategic Partnership 2030 announced in July this year, which will be of long-term benefit to the defence, jobs and skills of both nations, strengthening bi-lateral relations.
The UK and Poland are close Allies, with hundreds of British troops deployed to the country at any one time. That includes the recent deployments of Challenger 2 tanks and Sky Sabre air defence systems to Poland. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
01 Sep 23. Poland Preparing Second Phase of Polish-Korean Cooperation: production of military equipment in Poland. On August 31, talks between Poland’s defense minister Mariusz Błaszczak and Lee Jon-sup, South Korea’s defense minister took place in Warsaw. The main topic of the talks was further strengthening of bilateral cooperation.
“The effects of this cooperation are tangible. Ms of people could admire the great parade in Warsaw on August 15. During this parade, modern equipment manufactured in Korea was presented. I’m thinking about K2 tanks, K9 gun howitzers, and FA-50 planes. (…) In the hands of Polish soldiers, this equipment is indeed equipment that guarantees safety,” said the head of the Ministry of National Defense.
During the meeting, the security situation as well as issues of technical modernization and further arms cooperation were also discussed.
“Together, we will demonstrate the defense capabilities of the Polish Army in Bemowo Piskie on September 17, as part of the “Autumn Fire” exercise. There, we will be able to admire the effectiveness of Korean equipment in the hands of Polish crews, including Chunmoo, a missile system with a range of up to 300 km, in the Polish Jelcze region. The first units of this weapon are already in our country,” Minister M. Błaszczak.
In recent years, the partnership of Polish and Korean industries has strengthened as a result of concluding bilateral agreements for supplies to the Polish Armed Forces, which included K2 tanks, K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light combat aircraft and K239 Chunmoo multi-launch launchers.
“Thank you once again for your cooperation so far, but I emphasize that there is still a lot ahead of us. This is cooperation that is beneficial to both sides – for Poland and Korea. (…) I am convinced that together we will achieve success,” concluded Minister Błaszczak.
(Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Polish Ministry of Defense)
01 Sep 23. HMS Prince of Wales heads to USA to shape future of naval aviation.
- Britain’s biggest warship sails from Portsmouth to the USA for 3 months of trials pushing boundaries of latest aircraft and technology in naval aviation
- The ship will make history with both combat and re-supply drones on deck for the first time
- And trials with F-35B Lightning stealth fighters will expand UK carrier striking power
Britain’s biggest warship today sailed for her autumn deployment – her longest yet, pushing the limits of aircraft carrier operations with drones, fifth-generation stealth fighters, tilt-rotors and helicopters.
HMS Prince of Wales departs Portsmouth for the Eastern Seaboard of the USA to revolutionise the way the Royal Navy operates Carrier Strike Groups.
By the time she returns home shortly before Christmas, the ship will have:
- operated advanced drone technologies, demonstrating the delivery of vital supplies without the need to use helicopters;
- landed and launched F-35 Lightning stealth fighters in more ways, more quickly and in the harshest of sea conditions to increase the strike carrier’s firepower;
- and increased the range and conditions in which the US Marine Corps’ impressive MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft can operate.
Once in the Channel the ship’s company will conduct trials with UK-firm W Autonomous Systems to assess the feasibility of drones delivering supplies to Royal Navy vessels at sea – initially flying in up to 100kg of stores.
Both the Royal Navy and its supporting flotilla from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are experimenting with drone technology – saving launching large, expensive naval helicopters to perform the missions.
“We are all excited for the longest deployment of HMS Prince of Wales,” said her Commanding Officer Captain Richard Hewitt.
“Being the first to operate with this level of drones will be a huge achievement and keep us on the front foot as we prepare for the next major Carrier Strike Group deployment in 2025.”
Once in the USA, the ship will embark F-35B stealth fighters for the final phase of pushing the boundaries of the UK’s fifth-generation jets’ operating limits from the carrier.
The F-35 has undergone extensive trials and assessment both in the US and UK operating from the flight decks of both Queen Elizabeth-class carriers and has deployed operationally.
But five years after the Lightning jets made their debut on a Royal Navy aircraft carrier, there’s still more to learn about the state-of-the-art fighter – and more to be exploited.
Pushing the boundaries will see more advanced take-off and landing techniques tested, allowing the F-35s to return to the carrier faster and heavier (i.e with more fuel and weapons aboard) which cuts the time between sorties, allowing the ship to launch more strike missions, faster.
HMS Prince of Wales will also be looking to launch and land the Lightning jets in the heaviest sea states, proving that they can operate the jets in the harshest environments.
“My team are really excited to tackle the final phase of testing which will expand the F-35’s awesome capabilities even more – and to be the first to land and launch new types of drones on our deck. The deck team are ready and raring to go,” said Commander Martin Russell, in charge of HMS Prince of Wales’ air group and flight deck operations.
Once the work with the F-35s is complete, focus will shift again to the next-generation of Short Take-Off and Landing drones currently under development.
The Mojave drone can carry a 1,500lb payload of missiles, rockets or bombs and has been specifically designed to land and take-off from short runways, or flight decks.
Trials are lined up to see whether the Mojave can land on the 901ft-long deck of the Prince of Wales.
The carrier’s stint Stateside will conclude by expanding the US Marine Corps’ unique tilt-rotor MV-22 Ospreys operating limits.
The Ospreys are used to transport troops and kit into battle. Expanding the ship’s operating limits for all of these aircraft over the deployment will allow even greater capacity for joint operations in the future, culminating in HMS Prince of Wales’ global deployment in 2025. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
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