Tag: Ministry of Defence

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 9 January 2025.

It comes as a further £190m for the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine was announced following further pledges from allies.

30,000 drones will be sent to Ukraine after £45 million worth of contracts were placed by the international Drone Capability Coalition, co-led by the UK and Latvia as the UK steps up leadership supporting Ukraine in 2025.

Defence Secretary John Healey announced this milestone alongside Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group held at Ramstein Air Base today [Thursday 9 January].

Healey arrived last night for talks with the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the US Air Base.

The Drone Capability Coalition supports Ukraine with uncrewed surveillance and attack capabilities. Funding for the new 30,000 drones comes from UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Latvia and Sweden.

These state-of-the-art, first-person view drones will help Ukraine fight against Russian aggression, allowing Ukraine’s Armed Forces to manoeuvre past Russian air defences to target enemy positions and armoured vehicles.

Today’s announcement follows the UK’s £7.5 million investment for the Drone Capability Coalition’s Common Fund, set out in November, and brings the UK’s total investment in the fund to £15 million to date. So far, the fund has raised around £73 million from the UK and partners.

As well as this, the Defence Secretary confirmed that the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine now stands at over £1.3 billion, of which the UK has contributed £500 million.

He also outlined the Ministry of Defence’s plan for Ukraine’s Defence in 2025 to more than 50 allies and partners gathered for the meeting. John Healey discussed the plan with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov in Kyiv in December.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

The fierce courage of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire the world, and this meeting of more than 50 nations sends a clear message to Putin about the international community’s unwavering support for Ukraine.

I am proud of the UK’s leadership in supporting Ukraine. From heading coalitions which are delivering essential equipment alongside allies, to training recruits, we’re standing strong with Ukraine against Putin’s aggression.

Our commitment to provide £3 billion a year of military aid for as long as it takes will ensure Ukraine can defend themselves and is essential to protect the security of the UK – because the defence of the UK starts in Ukraine.

In a further sign of the strength of international support for Ukraine’s efforts to repel Russia’s illegal invasion, more than £190 million of extra funding has been committed to the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine by allies and partners, with Portugal and Germany contributing for the first time.

The fund uses financial contributions from international partners to rapidly procure priority military equipment for Ukraine. The new contributions include:

• £67 million from Denmark for capabilities including drones, air defence systems and training equipment
• £59 million from Norway for specialist capabilities including drones and maritime training
• £43 million (€52 million) from Portugal for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones
• £20 million from Sweden to fund the repair of Archer self-propelled artillery systems and maritime training
• £4 million from Germany for maritime training
• £1 million from Iceland to fund coastal radars

Since taking office in July, the government has stepped up international leadership supporting Ukraine and demonstrated its ironclad support, committing to £3 billion of military support to Ukraine every year for as long as it takes. In October, an extra £2.26 billion was announced, using the profits from seized Russian assets.

The meeting of allies and partners at Ramstein follows the Defence Secretary’s visit to Kyiv last month, where he met with his counterpart Rustem Umerov, to discuss the priority areas for UK defence support and announced a new £225 million package, including £186m from the International Fund for Ukraine, of military support.

The government is clear that the UK’s defence starts in Ukraine, and that providing military support is essential to promote both the UK’s national security and stability in Europe.

As part of the Plan for Ukraine’s Defence in 2025, the UK’s continued leadership on the war in Ukraine throughout 2025 will see an increase to Ukraine’s military capability; will build on the success of Operation Interflex by enhancing the training offered to Ukraine; will strengthen defence industrial cooperation; will increase cooperation with our allies to support Ukraine; and will increase pressure on Russia.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 6 January 2025.

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.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 3 January 2025.

Thousands of UK personnel will continue to deploy to Europe in the next two months to spearhead a major NATO exercise.

• UK leading contribution with over 2600 personnel and 730 vehicles deploying to NATO’s eastern flank.
• First deployment under new NATO Allied Reaction Force.
• Deployment demonstrates UK’s unshakeable commitment to NATO and European Security.

Thousands of UK personnel will continue to deploy to Europe in the next two months to spearhead a major NATO exercise.

Leading from the front, the UK is providing the largest contribution of forces with over 2600 personnel, and 730 vehicles deploying to NATO’s eastern flank.

Throughout January and February 2025, NATO will conduct Exercise Steadfast Dart 25 to practice the deployment of the new Allied Reaction Force, which can rapidly reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. These important exercises will showcase the Alliance’s readiness, capability, and commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory.

The UK’s 1st Division will be in command of all of NATO’s land forces in the exercise, continuing Britain’s proud tradition of leadership in NATO and demonstrating this government’s unshakeable commitment to the Alliance.

The exercises will see the UK Armed Forces join thousands of personnel from ten NATO Allies, operating across Romania and Bulgaria coinciding with the anniversary of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP, said:

This Government wants the UK to be NATO’s leading European nation.

Exercise Steadfast Dart demonstrates our unshakeable commitment to NATO and highlights the UK key leadership role in the Alliance.

As we approach the three-year anniversary of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we must continue to strengthen our collective defences together to deter Putin effectively.

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, supporting all of the Government’s five missions in its plan.

This exercise will help to improve co-ordination and cooperation between NATO Allies, particularly in the early phases of deployment. The ability of NATO to rapidly deploy is reliant on nations being able to seamlessly operate alongside each other.

Having a high-readiness forces that can operate across land, air, and sea to respond to emerging threats is a critical component of NATO’s defensive plans. The new Allied Reaction Force will not only support the Alliance’s defence in times of crisis but strengthen deterrence against our adversaries – including Russia.  It will ensure that forces from across the NATO alliance can come together at shorter notice that has ever been possible before.

730 vehicles including Foxhound and Jackals will deploy by road, air, and sea to Eastern Europe where they will conduct two exercises before returning to the UK at the end of February.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 2 January 2025.

A revolutionary UK-built atomic clock will make military operations more secure through experimental quantum technology.

Military personnel will use groundbreaking quantum technology to conduct more secure and precise operations, thanks to a new high-tech atomic clock.

Developed at the top-secret Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, (Dstl) the quantum clock will be a leap forward in improving intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance by decreasing the reliance on GPS technology, which can be disrupted and blocked by adversaries.

The clock’s precision is so refined that it will lose less than one second over billions of years, allowing scientists to measure time at an unprecedented scale. It is the first device of its kind to be built in the UK and will be deployable on military operations in the next five years.

The applications of quantum clocks extend beyond precision timekeeping. Further improvement to GPS accuracy could transform global navigation systems, aiding in everything from satellite communication to aircraft navigation.

The development of this cutting-edge technology supports key components of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, safeguarding national security while supporting skilled, productive jobs which foster economic growth.

In addition, further research will see the technology decrease in size to allow mass manufacturing and miniaturisation, unlocking a wide range of applications, such as use by military vehicles and aircraft.

Improved clocks, such as this atomic device, will allow the Ministry of Defence to further support current and future capabilities. For example, quantum clocks can:

• Enable more precise and independent navigation systems, reducing reliance on GPS satellites, which are vulnerable to jamming or destruction in conflict scenarios.
• Secure communications systems, such as encrypted military networks, which depend on highly synchronised timekeeping.
• Enhance the accuracy of advanced weapon systems, like guided missiles, which rely on accurate timing to calculate trajectories and coordinate attacks.
• Allow our Armed Forces to gain an edge over adversaries in timing-critical operations, especially in areas like cyber warfare, where milliseconds can make a difference.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, said:

“Integrating cutting edge technology into existing capabilities exemplifies the Government’s commitment to innovation in the defence sector, and to ensuring our Armed Forces have the best kit possible to keep us secure at home and strong abroad.

“The trialling of this emerging, groundbreaking technology could not only strengthen our operational capability, but also drive progress in industry, bolster our science sector and support high-skilled jobs.”

The trial is the first time that Dstl has tested a UK-built optical atomic clock outside of a laboratory, offering a new capability beyond the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) that currently exist. GNSS vulnerabilities are a known national security risk, with atomic clock technology having the potential to provide a stable sovereign-controlled capability for maintenance of precise time for critical operations.

Dstl’s Chief Executive, Paul Hollinshead, said:

“This first trial of advanced atomic clock represents a significant achievement in the UK’s quantum technology capabilities.

“The data gathered will not only shape future Defence effort but is also a signal to industry and academia that we are serious about exploring quantum technologies for secure and resilient operational advantage.”

The trial involved key partners including Infleqtion (UK), Aquark Technologies, HCD Research and Imperial College London, as well as in-house technology developed at Dstl’s quantum laboratory. These prototype frequency standards were tested in collaboration with the Royal Navy’s Office of the Chief Technical Officer and the Army Futures team at the BattleLab.

Commander Matt Steele, the Future Technology Officer for the Royal Navy’s Office of the Chief Technical Officer, said:

“The Navy has been looking at quantum technologies for a number of years and it is exciting to see that the challenges of physics and engineering in this area are now no longer a scientific concept, but is now reaching the cusp of reality.”

“In the next few years, the ability to operate effectively, to survive, and to navigate and also to remain lethal with the use of Quantum alongside GPS will secure operational advantage.”

The ‘Demonstration of Advanced Timing Apparatus’ (DATA) is part of a planned series of experiments designed to understand the performance and limitations of quantum clocks, with potential benefits for military and national infrastructure resilience.

The MOD, via Dstl, has invested more than £28 million to shape the UK’s research and development to achieve early adopter advantage of these ground-breaking technologies and put defence and security needs at the forefront of the UK efforts.

Jonathan, a technical leader for industry partner Infleqtion, said:

“Quantum is really important to the UK especially from a defence perspective. If you look at what’s happening in the world at the moment, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that we need better and more robust position navigation and timing services, and that’s something that quantum is uniquely placed to be able to provide.”

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 December 2024.

A major deal to bring the Armed Forces housing estate back into public ownership has been agreed by the government.

• Landmark deal struck to bring military housing estate back into public hands.
• Major deal unlocks new-build housing projects for military families plus essential refurbishments.
• End to huge annual rental bill to save around £230 million per year.

Billions of pounds will be saved by the deal over the next decade, delivering savings for taxpayers and enabling additional investment into homes for military families. The landmark move reverses a sale undertaken by the Government in 1996.

The Defence Secretary describes today’s announcement as a “decisive break” with the failed approach of the past, which will enable the first steps to be taken to fix the long-term decline in housing for military families and deliver homes fit for heroes. He will also commit to using the deal to help achieve the Government’s milestones on kickstarting economic growth and boosting housebuilding across the country.

Today’s deal will bring to an end to an arrangement which has seen the taxpayer spend billions of pounds on rental payments for military housing while still being liable for rising maintenance costs and handing back billions of pounds worth of military properties.

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will buy back 36,347 houses, making major redevelopment and improvements possible. The deal is part of the Government’s drive to boost military morale, tackle recruitment and retention challenges and renew the nation’s contract with those who serve.

The MOD, supported by UK Government Investments, and Annington have formally agreed that the MOD will reacquire the service family estate sold in 1996, which is now valued at £10.1 billion when not subject to leases, and is being purchased for £5,994,500,000, representing excellent value for money.

The new deal will see the immediate saving of more than £600,000 of taxpayers’ money each day, with the current annual bill of £230 million in rent being eliminated. These savings to the defence budget will help to fix “deep-set problems” in military housing, and support the development of a high-quality new homes for military families.

The announcement comes as the Government kickstarts work on a new military housing strategy, to be published next year. Key principles of the strategy will include: a generational renewal of Armed Forces accommodation; new opportunities for forces homeownership; and better use of MOD land to support the delivery of affordable homes for families across Britain.

The first steps in the strategy will include the rapid development of an action plan to deliver on the “once in a generation” opportunities unlocked by today’s deal. This work will involve independent experts, forces families and cross-government input.

This will support the Government’s Plan for Change, which is built on the strong foundation of national security. It also comes alongside the Prime Minister’s Homes for Heroes pledge to exempt veterans from rules requiring a connection to a local area before accessing social housing.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said:

This deal shows our government is determined to deliver homes fit for our heroes. This is a once in a generation opportunity, not only to fix the dire state of military housing but to help drive forward our economic growth mission, creating jobs and boosting British housebuilding.

Our armed forces and their families make extraordinary sacrifices: theirs is the ultimate public service. It is shameful that in the lead up to Christmas, too many military families will be living with damp, mould and sub-standard homes – issues which have built up over the past decade.

We are determined to turn this around and renew the nation’s contract with those who serve. These important savings to the defence budget will help fix the deep-set problems we inherited. I thank the teams who have helped us reach this landmark deal at pace – another example of this government delivering for defence.

There is still a lot of work to do to deliver the homes our military families deserve, and these problems will not be fixed overnight. But this is a decisive break with the failed approach of the past and a major step forward on that journey.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones said:

This is a landmark deal that will start saving the taxpayer money immediately, all while driving forward our mission to create growth across the country.

Not only does it open the door to major development and improvements across the military housing estate, but most important of all, it will help us on our mission to build more houses and deliver our service personnel the homes they deserve.

The original agreement did not strike an appropriate balance of risk and reward, and it is estimated the taxpayer is nearly £8 billion worse off as a result. Money which should have been better spent on maintaining and improving our service family homes.

Eliminating the liabilities associated with the leases creates budgetary headroom to partially fund this purchase, meaning that the public expenditure impact of this measure, and the impact on net financial debt, is confined to £1.7 billion.

The 1996 sale saw 55,000 houses sold for an average of just £27,000 each property. In buying these houses back, the government will control properties worth almost ten times that average value and will no longer be paying £230 million annually in rent.

Other areas of the deal that have cost taxpayers money or prevented improvements to the estate include:

• Annually handing back hundreds of empty properties to Annington, totalling more than 18,000 properties since 1996 – worth an estimated £5.2 billion by today’s valuations.
• Although the deal included a discount from market rent rates, the MOD – and therefore the taxpayer – have been responsible for all maintenance on all properties.
• If the MOD spent money improving a property for service families, in some circumstances this could incur greater rental costs under the terms of the deal.
• Despite most of the properties having been built in the 1950s and 1960s, the deal has prevented the MOD from being able to demolish properties or build additional houses for Service Families.

Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said:

Housing provision is a constant part of life for Service Personnel and their families, who support them closely throughout their military careers. We understand the importance placed on this for people’s morale and decisions on whether to continue in the Armed Forces long-term.

This deal is a crucial step in being able to deliver meaningful change for those who serve – an opportunity to regain control of the estate and move forward with substantial redevelopment and refurbishment. This work will provide military families the higher-quality houses they fully deserve. It is very significant and very welcome.

Following today’s deal, the MOD can start work on substantive redevelopment and improvements. The agreement frees up our ability to build on the Service Family Accommodation estate with a more modern estate, helping reduce maintenance costs and, as part of work facilitated by the deal, programmes to build new houses are being accelerated.

Planning applications will be submitted in the coming days for 265 new houses and apartments at RAF Brize Norton, and further plans will be submitted in the Spring for around 300 new houses at Catterick Garrison.

The potential for improvements to the estate can already be seen where family housing is being provided outside of the 1996 deal. At Imjin Barracks in Gloucestershire 176 modern homes are being built, which include low-carbon heating systems and solar panels, reducing energy costs for military families and improving sustainability.

The landmark deal to repurchase the estate from Annington follows the MOD’s comprehensive success in the High Court last year. The agreement brings the properties back to public ownership and delivering long term value for money for current and future taxpayers.

Since July, the Government has slashed recruitment red tape to make the process more straightforward for those wanting to join the military, announced the largest Armed Forces pay increase for 22 years and recently the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill passed its Second Reading in the House of Commons.

Background

The estimated overall budgetary impact of the agreement over the next 10 years – if no deal had been agreed – would be around £5.9 billion in rent payments and capital charges, as well as additional properties currently valued at around £1.3 billion being handed back to Annington.

Taxpayers being £8 billion worse off as a result of the deal:

• £4.3 billion spent in rent.
• 18,000 properties handed back to Annington – with an estimated current market value of £5.2 billion.
• £1.7 billion income generated in 1996 for the taxpayer as part of the original deal.
• Total – £7.8 billion worse off.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 12 December 2024.

The operation has concluded after more than two years of successfully protecting Polish airspace.

British personnel have been thanked for their work in supporting the defence of Poland’s airspace, as the UK’s Sky Sabre air defence deployment comes to an end.

Initially planned as a six-month deployment in 2022, the operation has been extended four times, playing an important role in boosting NATO’s eastern flank and strengthening the alliance’s security in light of Russian aggression in the region, and in close co-ordination with Polish and other allied forces.

Sky Sabre will be reconstituted in the UK, ensuring that the UK Armed Forces has flexibility on operational requirements in future, including training more personnel on the system.

UK and Polish troops marked the end of the two-year deployment of the Sky Sabre system at a ceremony in Rzeszów, Poland, last week.

The conclusion of the deployment was marked by a joint visit from Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP and Polish Secretary of State Paweł Zalewski. The Minister for the Armed Forces thanked British service personnel who have been deployed alongside Sky Sabre over the previous 2 years.

Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP said:

This operation has been a huge success. The Sky Sabre system played an important role in defending Poland’s airspace.

Our outstanding Armed Forces personnel keep us secure at home and strong abroad and I’d like to thank them for their professionalism and hard work during this extended deployment, I’d also like to welcome them home for some well-deserved rest with their loved ones over the Christmas period.

The UK remains unshakeable in its commitment to defending our NATO allies, and we will continue to work closely with our Polish Allies, including through a deployment of RAF Typhoons next year. We continue to work with our Polish friends to deliver the NAREW programme.

The NAREW programme is a collaboration between UK firm MBDA and Polish defence company PGZ, which will see Poland receive more than 1,000 Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles – Extended Range (CAMM-ER) and over 100 iLaunchers.

These will boost Poland’s ability to defend itself against modern threats, including cruise missiles and fighter jets, at ranges of more than 40 kilometres.

The programme is also a boost to the UK’s defence industry, creating growth and opportunities back home and reaffirming our commitment to defending Poland and NATO’s eastern flank.

Since Sky Sabre’s initial deployment in 2022, Poland have continued to develop their long-term defence projects alongside the UK and our allies, which includes a new £4bn defence agreement with the UK defence industry, that will protect their airspace and NATO’s eastern flank for years to come.

The UK will continue to play an active role in defending Poland’s air space. Next year, the Royal Air Force will take part in a NATO Air Policing mission in Poland, deterring our adversaries above NATO’s eastern flank.

The UK-led DIAMOND initiative, which Poland is part of, will improve NATO’s integrated air and missile defence by ensuring that the different air defence systems across the Alliance operate better and more jointly across Europe. The UK launched this initiative at the October meeting of NATO Defence Ministers this year.

In October, the Army deployed specialist engineers to support the Polish authorities deal with devastating floods that hit the country. The British Army also has more than 100 permanently deployed troops in country, as part of the UK’s enhance forward presence.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 12 December 2024.

Government has launched £75 million LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme after discussions with veterans.

LGBT veterans will receive up to £70,000 each to acknowledge the historic wrongs they experienced in the Armed Forces – with the Government increasing the total amount available for payments up to £75 million, significantly above the level recommended in the Etherton Review into the treatment of LGBT veterans.

The increase follows extensive engagement with LGBT veterans and demonstrates the Government’s commitment to supporting veterans alongside recognising the historic hurt caused.

LGBT veterans who were dismissed or discharged because of their sexual orientation or gender identify will receive £50,000. As a result of the increased funding, additional payments of up to £20,000 will be available for veterans and Service Personnel who were negatively affected by the ban on LGBT personnel from 1967 to 2000 during their time in Service – this is an increase of 50% to the Financial Recognition Scheme.

Ministers have also announced today (Thursday 12 December) that LGBT veterans, dismissed or discharged due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, can apply to have their rank restored and discharge reason amended.

Defence Secretary John Healey said:

The historic treatment of LGBT veterans was a moral stain on our nation.  Our Government is determined to right the wrongs of the past and recognise the hurt that too many endured.

We have listened to veterans and will continue to deliver against the recommendations set out in the Etherton review. We will continue to support our veterans as we work to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve, and have served.

This work was rightly started by the previous Government, and will be taken forward and delivered by this Government.

The Financial Recognition Scheme and other restorative measures will be debated in the House of Commons today (Thursday 12 December), with a portal for applications opening tomorrow. Several veterans affected by the LGBT ban have been invited to watch the debate.

Today’s announcements mark a significant step towards implementing Lord Etherton’s review, which looked at the appalling treatment of LGBT serving personnel between 1967 and 2000. With applications opening tomorrow for the Financial Recognition Scheme, which will leave only seven recommendations outstanding, the Ministry of Defence is working closely with other Government departments and stakeholders to ensure all remaining recommendations are delivered in 2025.

The payments announced today (Thursday 12 December) will be exempt from income tax and means tested benefits, ensuring LGBT veterans benefit from the full amount available.

Minister for Veterans and People Alistair Carns said:

This response to Lord Etherton’s Review indicates the urgent action we’re taking to help redress the regrettable chapter in the history of the Armed Forces.

The treatment of LGBT people is a shameful chapter in the history of our Armed Forces and we are working hard to address the wrongs of the past.

We fully welcome our LGBT veterans back into Defence and acknowledge their vital contribution to keeping the nation safe.

To help as many eligible people to apply as possible, the Ministry of Defence has set aside a £90,000 fund for key charities to support LGBT veterans with their applications.

Four non-financial restorative measures, including the two announced today on rank restoration and the qualification of administrative discharges, will be extended to those who served before 1967. The other two are certificates of service being reissued and former Officers having their service details published in The Gazette.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 11 December 2024.

A high-energy laser weapon has been fired by the British Army from an armoured vehicle for the first time and successfully destroyed flying drones.

It works by directing an intense beam of infra-red light in the form of energy towards its target using advanced sensors and tracking systems which maintain lock-on and accuracy in real time.

Unlike conventional munitions, laser weapons are virtually limitless in terms of ammunition supply, which means they could represent a cost-effective alternative to some current in-service weapons.

The laser was integrated onto a Wolfhound – a protected troop-carrying vehicle – where soldiers from 16 Royal Artillery were able to track and down hovering targets at Radnor Range in mid-Wales.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, said:

“This ground-breaking technology demonstrates Britain’s commitment to staying at the forefront of military innovation.

“The successful testing of this laser weapon system represents a significant step forward in our development of possible future defence capabilities and showcases British engineering excellence.”

The laser has been developed through a collaboration between the MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) – known as Team Hersa – and an industry consortium led by Raytheon UK.

This delivers on the Government’s Plan for Change, by rapidly advancing technologies and building on the strong foundation of national security.

Warrant Officer Matthew Anderson, trials manager for the British Army’s Mounted Close Combat Trials and Development Group, said:

“Every engagement we’ve done has removed a drone from the sky. While we’ve been testing a variety of distances, speeds and altitudes, one thing has remained – how quick a drone can be taken out.

“It’s definitely a capability that could be added to the arsenal of weapons that we use on the battlefield.”

The purpose of the capability demonstrator programme is to discover and test the potential future use of directed energy weapons by the British Army.

Having already been tested by engineers from MOD and industry, the latest experimentation by the British Army should provide knowledge, information and experience to support future requirement decisions, ensuring the UK stays at the forefront of this novel and disruptive technology.

Stephen Waller, Directed Energy Weapons Team Leader for DE&S, said:

“This is still an emerging technology, but the world has changed and we are seeing more use of drones in the battlespace. This requires a more cost-effective solution to protect our troops.

“Having the capability to track and eliminate moving drones will give UK troops a better operational advantage and these successful trials have demonstrated that we are well on our way to achieving this.”

As well as Raytheon, Fraser Nash, NP Aerospace, LumOptica, Blighter Surveillance Systems and Cambridge Pixel have been involved in developing the weapon under a £16.8 million contract awarded by Team Hersa.

UK MOD will take the learnings of the project into account and assess the necessary steps to develop Laser Directed Energy Weapons for frontline use by the British Army in the future.

Matt Cork, Head of Team Hersa Dstl said:

“The successful testing of the Laser Directed Energy Weapon demonstrator is an important step towards a future capability. This technology has the potential to offer a credible and cost-effective means to defeat a range of current and future threats, which would improve the effectiveness of our armed forces”

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 28 November 2024.

The construction of HMS Sheffield, an advanced anti-submarine warfare ship for the Royal Navy, officially began today with a traditional steel-cutting ceremony in Glasgow.

Nearly 2,000 jobs and apprenticeships will be supported through the production of Type 26 frigates, providing valuable employment opportunities for skilled workers and apprentices in Scotland. Around 4,000 jobs will be supported throughout the UK supply chain, in a boost to the economy.

HMS Sheffield is the fifth of eight Type 26 frigates being built in Scotland, marking another significant step forward in the City Class frigate programme, designed for a service life of at least 25 years, serving into the 2060s.

Representatives from BAE Systems, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the Royal Navy, and government joined employees for the event, as an apprentice official cut steel on HMS Sheffield.

Attending the ceremony, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, said:

This steel cutting ceremony marks another key moment for both our Royal Navy and British shipbuilding.

HMS Sheffield represents not just a cutting-edge addition to our fleet, but also demonstrates our commitment to supporting thousands of skilled jobs and economic growth across Scotland and the wider UK.

This investment in our naval capability ensures we can continue to protect our nation’s interests while supporting British industry.

The Type 26 frigates will replace the current Type 23 fleet and will be among the world’s most advanced warships, supporting our national security. Their primary role will be to protect the Royal Navy’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent and Carrier Strike Group.

These versatile ships will also support international operations, including counter-piracy missions and humanitarian relief work. This will support the UK in creating a stronger defence and ensuring our Armed Forces are better equipped to tackle the threats of the future.

Sir Simon Lister, Managing Director, BAE Systems, Naval Ships said:

This is a proud moment for our talented teams across the UK who play their part in the design and construction of these important vessels.

HMS Sheffield’s construction will benefit from a range of investments, which are transforming our digital and physical infrastructure and will consolidate a centre of excellence for UK shipbuilding in Glasgow.

I’d like to thank our customers and suppliers for their support and commitment as we take this programme forward together and deliver the next generation frigates for the Royal Navy.

HMS Sheffield is a name steeped in Royal Navy history, with the name previously on several ships, including on a Town class cruiser which saw extensive action during the Second World War, and a Type 42 destroyer which was deployed during the Falklands War.

Construction of all of the City Class Type 26 frigates is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s, with HMS Glasgow, the first in class, entering service by the end of 2028.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 18 November 2024.

British soldiers are to receive high-tech rifle sights, helping them to better track and shoot the enemy in dark conditions.

• Rifle sight systems for British soldiers will upgrade night fighting capabilities.
• High-tech kit improves rifle accuracy in the dark.
• Jobs boost as contract will sustain 650 skilled jobs in North Wales.

British soldiers are to receive high-tech rifle sights, helping them to better track and shoot the enemy in dark conditions, under a new contract announced by the MOD today.

The new contract will supply up to 10,000 high performance rifle sights and is a jobs boost for North Wales, sustaining 650 jobs in St Asaph, Denbighshire.

This supports the Government’s economic growth mission and underlines defence’s contribution to growth across the UK.

The TALON Fused Weapon Sight is manufactured by defence company Qioptiq and is the most advanced sight the British Army will have used.

The sight helps with war fighting at night, as it uses the latest optical technology to detect enemy soldiers better in low light. The sight also has an advanced ability to recognise adversaries through body heat, known as thermal recognition.

The TALON sight will also provide soldiers with the ability to more accurately detect enemy targets from an increased distance up to 1 kilometre, including in the dark. They will fit seamlessly onto the Army’s SA80 A3 and HUNTER rifles.

Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard said:

Rolling out this high-tech rifle sight shows how we’re investing in new tech for our soldiers to take the fight to our adversaries.

The rifle night sights are tried and tested, proving highly effective to keep British soldiers protected in difficult environments.

The deal is also a great jobs boost for Wales, with £120 million invested and 650 jobs sustained in the local area.

The £120 million contract continues procurement of the TALON sight, under a seven-year Framework Agreement with Qioptiq.

While some soldiers are already using the sight in tests, the first of the new sights is expected to be in use more widely across the Army next year (2025).

The Enhanced Light Force Battalion, 2 Royal YORKS based in Chester, have been tasked since 2021 with trialling the development of the cutting-edge rifle night sight systems. British soldiers got firsthand experience with the advanced rifle capability and provided glowing feedback.

Brigadier Nick Serle, Head Military Capability Delivery (MCD) in the British Army Headquarters Programmes Directorate said:

This contract results from true collaboration between the user community, our trials and development teams, Dstl, DE&S and Qioptiq. We expect the sight to continue to develop and remain truly world-leading. It is testament to the power of collaboration.

Critical in-service support for the sights will be managed through the Surveillance and Target Acquisition support contract delivered by Excelitas, which owns Qioptiq.

Peter White, Managing Director of Excelitas, said:

We’re delighted that the British Army and DE&S continue to recognise the enhanced fighting capabilities of our TALON fused weapon sight delivers.

We look forward to delivering this world-leading system for the end users for many years to come, supported by our 650 skilled employees at our facility in North Wales.