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08 Jan 25. UK could bring back a retired general to lead armed forces. Concerns are building over one of the leading candidates, who has faced questions over what he knew about alleged summary executions by special forces in Afghanistan. Ministers are considering bringing back a retired military chief to lead the armed forces amid concerns the likely frontrunner has been tainted by the inquiry into special forces killings. General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, formerly of the Royal Marines, is a leading candidate to be the next chief of the defence staff but has faced questions over what he knew about alleged summary executions by British special forces in Afghanistan. Admiral Sir Ben Key, the head of the navy, has told colleagues he is not intending to apply. He believes he “can’t fix the navy” amid a lack of resources and is expected to resign in the summer. Informed sources said options under consideration included bringing back a recently retired military chief, such as General Sir Patrick Sanders, 58, who was head of the army, or General Sir Nick Carter, 65, the chief of the defence staff until 2021. No former service chief has been reappointed for at least 25 years, according to MoD records.
“The other option is you [promote someone to] jump a couple of ranks, and rather than pulling in old people you bring in new,” a senior defence source said.
“There’s not a massive pool of available candidates so they are looking at other options. They need someone to take this strategic defence review, which hopefully will be radical, and implement it, into a system that hates change.”
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, 59,the present chief of the defence staff, is due to leave in the autumn after the post was extended by the previous government. The role is traditionally taken on by a serving four-star military chief.
John Healey, the defence secretary, will provide Sir Keir Starmer with a shortlist and the final decision is made by the prime minister.
Last year Starmer cancelled the appointment of Jenkins as national security adviser to make way for a political appointee, Jonathan Powell.
However, Jenkins, a four-star general, remains inside the Ministry of Defence working on “big multinational projects” without an official title, according to defence sources. He was vice-chief of the defence staff until last June and remains Commandant General Royal Marines.
(Source: The Times)
08 Jan 25. SAS accused of war crimes in Afghanistan by rival unit chief. Public inquiry hears allegation of a ‘deliberate policy’ by special forces of executing Afghan civilians including children. Special forces have been accused of a “deliberate policy” of executing Afghan civilians, including children, by an officer from a rival unit. In evidence given to a public inquiry into suspected war crimes in Afghanistan, the soldier said an allegedly rogue special forces unit had targeted all males of fighting age, including under 16s, even if they posed no threat to troops. The whistleblower – known only by the cipher N1799 – told the inquiry that he believed unit UKSF1 had carried out an “illegal” policy of targeting “everybody” on operations. His commanding officer from rival unit UKSF3 also gave evidence and said he had been told by the whistleblower that UKSF1 had “committed multiple instances of murder”, the inquiry investigating extrajudicial killings in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013 heard. The special forces whistleblower said UKSF1 had carried out the “flat packing” murders of civilians. In the first evidence of its kind, the officer said he was told that a pillow “had been put over the head” of an Afghan in at least one case, before he was “killed with a pistol”, the inquiry heard.
Unit had ‘Pulp Fiction nickname for dropped weapons’
The soldier said he was also informed that members of the allegedly rogue special forces unit “dropped” weapons next to their victims “to give the impression that a deceased individual had been armed when shot”, the inquiry heard.
A planted weapon was known colloquially among troops as a “Mr Wolf”, in reference to a character in the Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction, who is hired to “solve problems”.
The witness told the Afghanistan inquiry that he learnt of the alleged war crimes from a soldier in the accused unit UKSF1 while on a joint training exercise in March 2011.
He also said he feared he would be branded a traitor if he came forward, in evidence heard by the inquiry behind closed doors and released on Wednesday by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, the inquiry chairman. (Source: Daily Telegraph)
07 Jan 25. British-led force to use AI in tracking Russia’s shadow fleet. The U.K.-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a military partnership of 10 northern European countries, has activated an AI-powered system to track potential threats to undersea infrastructure and monitor the so-called Russian shadow fleet, consisting of hundreds of often poorly maintained vessels used to circumvent sanctions and possibly for spying and sabotage.
The operation, dubbed Nordic Warden, was activated last week, the U.K. said in a statement on Monday. The expeditionary force will uses artificial intelligence and data from sources including the Automatic Identification System used for ship positioning to calculate the risk of every vessel entering “areas of interest,” according to the government.
Finland last month seized a Russia-linked vessel called Eagle S suspected of having dragged its anchor for nearly 100 kilometers in the Baltic Sea, rupturing the Estlink 2 power cable between Finland and Estonia. That follows damage to two fiber-optic cables in the Baltic in November, potentially linked to anchor dragging by a Chinese-flagged vessel, a similar incident in 2023, and underwater explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipeline in 2022.
“Russian aggression is not simply confined to Ukraine,” U.K. Secretary of State for Defence John Healey told parliament in response to questions on Monday. “We’re deeply concerned about the damage and sabotage to undersea cables.”
Some military analysts, such as Anders Puck Nielsen at the Royal Danish Defence College, have suggested Russia may step up sabotage efforts and hybrid warfare as it faces growing losses and difficulties on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Vessels identified as being part of Russia’s shadow fleet have been registered into the system so they can be closely monitored when approaching key areas of interest, the U.K. said. If the system determines a potential risk, the expeditionary force will monitor a suspicious vessel in real time and send out warnings to JEF partner countries and NATO allies.
The JEF is monitoring 22 areas of interest including parts of the English Channel, the North Sea, the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea from its operational headquarters in Northwood in northwest London, the government said.
Nordic Warden will help protect against “both deliberate acts of sabotage as well as cases of extreme negligence which we have seen cause damage to underwater cables,” Healey said in the statement. He said Nordic Warden, which was first trialed during the summer of 2024, allows for monitoring of large sea areas with a comparatively small number of resources.
The shadow fleet was estimated to include about 591 tankers operating in the Russian oil trade, according to data compiled by S&P Global in April, up 33% from a March 2023 estimate.
The U.K. has sanctioned 93 oil tankers used by Russian President Vladimir Putin to “soften the blow of sanctions and bankroll his illegal war in Ukraine,” the government said. The U.K., Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland and Estonia last month agreed to request proof of insurance from suspected shadow vessels traveling the Baltic route.
The JEF is a high-readiness force that was established in 2014 and which today has 10 members, including all five Nordic countries, the three Baltic States, as well as the Netherlands and the U.K. (Source: Defense News)
06 Jan 25. Joint Expeditionary Force activates UK-led reaction system to track threats to undersea infrastructure and monitor Russian shadow fleet. Joint Expeditionary Force partners and NATO will be alerted by the system of any ships deemed a risk to key areas of interest. The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) has activated an advanced UK-led reaction system to track potential threats to undersea infrastructure and monitor the Russian shadow fleet, following reported damage to a major undersea cable in the Baltic Sea.
The 10-nation strong Joint Expeditionary Force, of which the UK is the framework nation, has also released a statement expressing concern at the damage caused to Estlink2 and highlighting the Alliance’s commitment to working together to safeguard shared interests.
The operation, activated last week and named Nordic Warden, harnesses AI to assess data from a range of sources, including the Automatic Identification System (AIS) ships use to broadcast their position, to calculate the risk posed by each vessel entering areas of interest. The JEF action reinforces existing and planned NATO responses.
Specific vessels identified as being part of Russia’s shadow fleet have been registered into the system so they can be closely monitored when approaching key areas of interest.
If a potential risk is assessed, the system will monitor the suspicious vessel in real time and immediately send out a warning, which will be shared with JEF participant nations as well as NATO Allies.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Growth and national security are vital to our Plan for Change, which is why this government is working closely with our allies to protect critical national infrastructure, such as undersea cables. I am pleased we are launching this cutting-edge technology so soon after the JEF Summit to enhance European security and deliver on our Plan for Change.”
Nordic Warden was activated last week under JEF protocols, which provide a series of options to the Alliance that can be activated in order to protect against potential threats. The initiative highlights how the JEF is using innovative technologies to boost collective European security, while supporting and complementing NATO’s own operations.
It comes following reported damage on Christmas Day to the Estlink2 undersea cable in the Baltic, which authorities in Finland suggest may have been caused by a tanker which forms part of Russia’s shadow fleet of vessels it uses to attempt to bypass international sanctions.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “The UK and JEF are leading the way in providing support to our Allies to help safeguard the offshore infrastructure we all rely on against potential threats.
Nordic Warden will help protect against both deliberate acts of sabotage as well as cases of extreme negligence which we have seen cause damage to underwater cables. Harnessing the power of AI, this UK-led system is a major innovation which allows us the unprecedented ability to monitor large areas of the sea with a comparatively small number of resources, helping us stay secure at home and strong abroad.”
22 areas of interest – including parts of the English Channel, North Sea, Kattegat, and Baltic Sea, are currently being monitored from the JEF’s operational headquarters in Northwood, where personnel from all JEF nations work side by side.
Nordic Warden was first trialled during the summer of 2024 and again during the JEF’s Exercise Joint Protector, which saw more than 300 UK personnel deploy to Latvia to demonstrate the ability of the UK to deploy its operational headquarters for JEF abroad at short notice.
The UK has led international efforts through a global alliance to disrupt the shadow fleet. As part of the initiative launched by the Prime Minister at the European Political Community last year, the UK has sanctioned 93 oil tankers which Putin has been using to soften the blow of sanctions and bankroll his illegal war in Ukraine. Today’s announcement complements last month’s agreement between the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland and Estonia to request proof of insurance from suspected shadow vessels as they pass along the Baltic route.
Commenting on the reported Estlink2 damage, the joint statement from Joint Expeditionary Force members said:
This is another example of maritime incidents causing direct economic and security implications for Finland and Estonia, highlighting the risks to vital communication and energy networks essential for the security and prosperity of all our nations.
The JEF commends Finland and Estonia for their decisive actions in dealing with the Estlink-2 power cable incident. We remain committed to supporting Participant Nations, NATO, and Allies in safeguarding our shared interests and regional stability.
Keeping the country safe is the Government’s first priority, and an integral part of its Plan for Change. The work of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, is critical to the security and stability of the UK, and Nordic Warden will help protect against threats.
The Joint Expeditionary Force is comprised of 10 like-minded nations, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden and the UK as the Framework Nation.
The JEF by design is a high readiness, adaptable force which enhance the ability of the grouping to respond rapidly to threats, anywhere in the world. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
06 Jan 25. Austria: Hard-right-led government is increasingly likely after latest collapse of coalition talks. On 4 January, coalition talks between the Austrian Peoples’ Party (ÖVP) and the Social Democrats (SPÖ) collapsed over budgetary issues. As a result, ÖVP leader and Chancellor Karl Nehammer resigned from both positions. The ÖVP and SPÖ previously decided to continue negotiations despite the liberal New Austria (NEOS) party having left the coalition talks on 3 January. With Nehammer’s resignation, opposition within the ÖVP to entering talks with the hard-right FPÖ has diminished considerably; coalition talks are now highly likely. The FPÖ won the August 2024 elections but was blocked by all the other parties before and after the result. Even if coalition talks with the ÖVP fail and new elections are announced, the FPÖ will highly likely secure an even better result, rendering a renewed veto by the ÖVP unlikely. We assess that FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl will possibly become Austria’s new chancellor, creating significant policy and domestic unrest risks due to his party’s EU scepticism, as well as its closeness to Russia and animosity towards immigrants. (Source: Sibylline)
05 Jan 25. UK could be hit by missiles ‘fired from anywhere in the world’ within 15 years. Outdated technology will leave country defenceless against advanced weaponry, say experts demanding an increase in military spending. Britain could be hit by ballistic missiles launched from anywhere in the world in the next 15 years, experts have warned.
Advances in technology have seen ballistic missiles deployed in the Ukrainian wars and conflict in the Middle East, exposing the UK’s own shortcomings in terms of missile defence.
A Sunday Times investigation revealed concerns among politicians, military personnel and experts that the UK’s air defence technology is aging, limited, and at risk of becoming insufficient as missiles become more advanced.
Some missiles can already travel thousands of miles to a target and it is expected that by 2040 the technology will be sophisticated enough for a missile to be sent anywhere in the world.
Nato is expected to request later this year that the UK increase its spending on air and missile defence. Some members are reported to be frustrated at the UK’s contribution to defensive shields which protect countries from long-range missile attacks.
The UK currently relies on six Type 45 destroyer warships for its air defence, but there are no land-based missile defence systems in the UK, exposing critical national infrastructure such as power stations and military bases at risk.
Around 1.6 per cent of GDP is spent annually by the UK on conventional defence when excluding nuclear deterrents.
And an over-reliance on the nuclear weapon deterrent has bred complacency in air defence advancements in a post-Cold War era, one source told The Sunday Times.
“The reason the UK has very thin air defences is because for 30 years nobody thought we needed it,” they said.
“What you’ve seen in Ukraine and Israel suggests otherwise. People don’t think of the UK being in peril. But of course the UK is in peril now.”
Another source added: “In 15 years’ time, a ballistic missile will be able to hit Britain from anywhere in the world.”
Meanwhile, Lord Kinnock, the former Labour leader, has urged Sir Keir Starmer to spend up to 4 per cent of GDP on defence.
Sir Keir is aiming to raise defence spending from the current level of 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent.
But this pledge does not have a timescale and he has scrapped Rishi Sunak’s 2030 target, prompting senior military figures and Labour grandees to urge him to go further.
Lord Kinnock told Times Radio: “I don’t think that 2.5 per cent of GDP will be enough, not least because the kind of things we’ve got to spend on are not just conventional forces, Army, Navy and Air Force, but very complex, high-tech resistance to the technological challenges that the Russians particularly, and to some extent the Chinese, but mainly the Russians, pose to us.
“Maybe 3 per cent, 4 per cent of GDP is a realistic objective. Now, I don’t expect any minister to announce that that’s the objective, but that’s where we’ve got to go because our security is imperilled.”
Lord Kinnock added that while the focus of the past four decades had “naturally” been on domestic and foreign terrorism, the biggest external threat was now attempted disruption by the Kremlin.
Lord West, the former first sea lord, and Lord Dannatt, the former chief of the general staff, have also said that the 2.5 per cent spending target is not enough.
Britain’s air defence is highly reliant on the Type 45s, which are due to be decommissioned by 2038, with plans to replace them with the newer Type 83s.
However, the new era warships are expected to cost at least £1bn each and experts speculate at least 12 will be needed.
The current Type 45s are equipped with the Sea Viper defence system, which has radar of 250 miles in range, and they can shoot down targets around 70 miles away.
Nato commitment ‘unshakeable’
However, they are not designed to be able to tackle ballistic missiles and are thought to only be effective when missiles are at the end of their trajectory and near their final target.
A Government spokesman said: “Our commitment to Nato is unshakeable and we are fully prepared to deter and defend ourselves against any threat alongside our Nato allies.
“More broadly, national security is a foundation of our Plan for Change and is a priority after our Armed Forces were hollowed out over the last 14 years.
“We are conducting our Strategic Defence Review at pace to assess the capabilities that we need to keep Britain safe, and under this Government have announced a new UK-led initiative to integrate and strengthen Nato’s collective air and missile defence, while working with Germany on further integrated air and missile defence opportunities through the Trinity House Agreement.” (Source: Daily Telegraph)
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Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Homeland Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need.
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