Tag: Ministry of Defence

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 27 December 2025.

Armed Forces to launch “gap year” Foundation Scheme in 2026 to give under-25s experience of armed forces.

Britain’s young people will be given new opportunities to experience military service through a ‘gap year’ Foundation Scheme set to launch in 2026. 

A first wave of around 150 participants will open for recruitment from early 2026, offering young people a year of paid experience and training in the Armed Forces: across the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.  Ministers have an ambition to eventually grow the scheme to over 1,000 young people subject to interest.

The scheme, which will launch in March, will offer young people bespoke training courses aimed at giving them the skills and attributes to set them up for success in either military or civilian life, bolstering their employability or providing a route into an exciting career in the Armed Forces.  

The scheme will equip those who may be unsure on their career direction with problem solving, teamwork and leadership skills, as well as offering unique opportunities including undergoing basic training, or experiencing life at sea.  

It forms part of the Government’s drive towards a “whole of society” approach to defence – a key theme of this year’s Strategic Defence Review – reconnecting the public with those who serve, strengthening awareness of the role the Armed Forces play, and giving the next generation the skills and experience to unlock their potential.  

The scheme is informed by the success of the Australian Defence Force’s ‘ADF Gap Year’ scheme, which was cited in the UK Government’s Strategic Defence Review as an “exciting model from which to learn” and has been running for over a decade.  

The announcement follows a “rallying cry” from the head of the Armed Forces, Sir Richard Knighton, who has set out the need for a whole-nation response to an increasingly volatile and uncertain world.  

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

This is a new era for Defence, and that means opening up new opportunities for young people to experience and learn from our Armed Forces.

This gap year scheme will give Britain’s young people a taste of the incredible skills and training on offer across the Army, Royal Navy and RAF. It’s part of our determination to reconnect society with our forces, and drive a whole of society approach to our nation’s defence.

As families come together at this time of year, and young people think about their futures, I want the outstanding opportunities on offer in our Armed Forces to be part of that conversation in homes across the UK.

Minister for Veterans and People Louise Sandher-Jones MP said:  

As a veteran, I know how invaluable the skills and experience gained by serving in the Armed Forces are not only in a military career, but in civilian life.  

This scheme will provide a fantastic opportunity for school leavers and young adults to develop their potential, learn new skills, and contribute to our nation’s security, all while building resilience, teamwork, and leadership skills that will serve them for life. 

As well as broad leadership skills, the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme will be designed to deliver transferrable skills to careers outside of the Armed Forces which will bolster national resilience. For example, working alongside supply chain specialist in the Army, or engineers on Royal Navy ships will provide the skills needed for success in logistics and engineering roles.  

Initially operating as a pilot, the scheme is expected to scale and increase capacity, offering the experience of life in the Armed Forces without a commitment beyond the course.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 26 December 2025.

The UK has seen the highest value of defence exports in 2025 since records began.

• UK secures over £20 billion in defence exports to allies in 2025, expected to be the highest since records began over 40 years ago
• Deals include UK’s largest ever warship export agreement and largest fighter jet sale for a generation
• Over 25,000 British jobs directly supported by these deals for decades to come

2025 is set to be the best year for UK defence exports since records began more than 40 years ago after the Government secured over £20 billion worth of defence deals in a single year, backing thousands of skilled British jobs and companies across the UK. 

From the UK’s biggest ever warship deal to the largest fighter jet exports agreement in a generation, the Government has ensured the UK is a leading defence partner for our allies across the world.

It demonstrates strong and rapid delivery of the Strategic Defence Review’s ambition to make defence an engine for growth through increasing exports, while strengthening the UK’s commitment to working closely with NATO allies.

The UK’s 2025 growth-boosting exports include a £10 billion deal with Norway to export at least five Type 26 frigates, supporting 4,000 jobs across the UK across over 430 businesses of all sizes.

Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said:

We are showing again how this government is delivering on our pledge to make defence an engine for economic growth across the country while boosting our security and that of our allies.

By winning the historic deal to build Type 26 frigates for Norway, we are driving growth in Scotland and across the UK while better equipping our combined navies to counter the threat from Russia in the North Atlantic. And by exporting Typhoon fighter jets to Türkiye, we are securing high-skilled jobs in Lancashire, Scotland and across the UK whilst helping strengthen NATO’s southern flank.

We are committed to working with our allies and defence industries to make sure the UK is a leader in global defence exports, and there’s more to come in 2026.

This month the UK and Norway signed the Lunna House agreement, which will see the Royal Navy and Royal Norwegian Navy operate together to counter the threat from Putin’s fleet in the North Atlantic. The UK recently announced the Atlantic Bastion transformation of the Royal Navy’s submarine-hunting capabilities, using uncrewed systems to develop a hybrid navy.

A further 20,000 jobs across the UK were secured through the largest fighter jet deal in a generation, selling 20 world-leading Typhoons to Türkiye in an £8 billion boost to the economy and strengthening NATO’s collective security.

These deals are also complemented by the export and sale of 12 C-130 aircraft to Türkiye at a combined value to UK defence and Marshall Aerospace Group of over £550M – safeguarding 1,400 skilled jobs in Cambridge – as well as the sale by Devon-based company Supacat of 18 transporter vehicles for Czechia’s armed forces.

Earlier this year the UK signed a new AUKUS treaty with Australia to better protect our seas, which has potential to drive up to £20 billion in potential exports and support over 21,000 UK jobs.

The UK is looking to build on this year’s success in 2026 by delivering further deals with allies, actively seeking to export systems such as advanced aircraft, the latest maritime technology and systems, and armoured transport vehicles such as Boxer.

To strengthen the UK’s position as a leading defence exporter, the UK recently joined the Agreement on Defence Export Controls, alongside France, Germany and Spain, which will make it easier for British business to export to partner nations.

These successes come as the Ministry of Defence implements the largest programme of reform in over 50 years, including the establishment of the National Armaments Director Group and its new International Collaboration & Exports team.

UK Defence and Security Exports defence exports statistics go back to 1983, more than 40 years ago.

Rupert Pearce, National Armaments Director, said:

These export successes reflect the NAD Group’s mission to strengthen international partnerships while driving economic growth at home.

By working as one integrated organisation, we’re facilitating access to UK defence capability for our allies to access world-leading UK defence capability, creating jobs and prosperity across the country whilst building the collective deterrence we all need.

Avril Jolliffe, Director General of International Collaboration and Exports (IC&E), said:

Global security demands an always-on approach to international collaboration and exports.

As announced in the Strategic Defence Review, we’re creating a single point of focus that connects UK industry directly with international opportunities.

This isn’t just about selling equipment – it’s about building defence partnerships that support collective security and UK economic objectives.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 11 December 2025.

AUKUS Defence Minister’s meeting reaffirmed shared commitment to the AUKUS partnership at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

Today the Honorable Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of War, hosted the Honourable Richard Marles MP, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, and the Right Honourable John Healey MP, United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. to reaffirm the shared commitment to the AUKUS partnership.

In line with shared intent to move “full steam ahead” on AUKUS, the Principals recognized the work underway to deliver priority infrastructure and workforce uplift in support of an enhanced trilateral submarine industrial base.

Through the discussions today, the three Principals discussed ways to continue to strengthen AUKUS and reiterated their shared commitment to inject pace and focus on delivery to ensure the long-term success of the AUKUS partnership.

The Principals recognized the critical importance of submarine cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I to ensure a robust deterrent.  Additionally, they recognized the importance of advanced capabilities development under AUKUS Pillar II and discussed opportunities to further accelerate delivery of such projects, with particular focus on near-term warfighting objectives.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 10 December 2025.

The Defence Secretary met with his US and Australian counterparts in the United States to discuss the progress on AUKUS.

• AUKUS partnership “full steam ahead” as US review concludes and focus shifts to delivery.
• UK has committed £6 billion to AUKUS in the last 18 months alone, bolstering Britain’s security and driving growth.
• Continuous UK submarine building under AUKUS set to deliver up to 12 new attack submarines and support over 20,000 British jobs.

Attack submarines and advanced military technology will help protect the UK, US and Australia as all three nations fully commit to the historic partnership, with the work set to create more than 7,000 UK jobs.  

Following the conclusion of the United States’ AUKUS review, the partnership is “full steam ahead” for delivery of cutting-edge equipment which will help deter adversaries in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions.  

Defence Secretary John Healey joined his counterparts, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, at the Pentagon today to collectively shift the focus of the AUKUS partnership to delivery – declaring that business as usual is “not an option”. 

With global instability rising, the three nations agreed that AUKUS must now move at pace to translate plans into hard capability. The meeting marked a decisive shift towards delivery for submarine development and turning advanced military technology projects into frontline warfighting capabilities under Pillar II. 

The UK is backing this commitment with action, investing £6 billion under the current government into critical infrastructure at Barrow and Derby that will realise the ability to construct a new AUKUS submarine every 18 months.

SSN-AUKUS will be the most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy, creating more than 7,000 new jobs across the UK supply chain and backing 21,000 jobs at peak production, making defence an engine for growth and supporting the government’s Plan for Change.  

That benefit is already being felt, with more than 3,000 new jobs across key UK sites for nuclear work have been created since July 2024, with an additional 4,400 construction roles expected to be created over the coming years. 

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: 

This is full steam ahead for AUKUS. Our reviews are done. Now, we deliver.   

In this new era of threat, with adversaries who are increasingly cooperating, business as usual is not an option.   

AUKUS is too significant and the stakes are too high for it to be allowed to drift. Our driving focus now is overcoming any barriers to delivery. And the UK is all in.   

With billions being invested in UK infrastructure, this programme demonstrates defence as an engine for growth – boosting our shared security, keeping our people safe and creating good jobs across our three nations.   The work builds on the UK leadership as part of the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine, and the UK’s move to be at the leading edge of innovation in NATO, including through the pioneering hybrid Navy approach announced earlier this week. Britain is also providing increased technical and military assistance to Australia through the Geelong Treaty to accelerate Australian capability to operate nuclear-powered submarines.  

AUKUS will deliver significant economic benefits for communities across the UK. The partnership will expand Britain’s submarine fleet with up to 12 attack boats, supported by continuous production delivering a new submarine every 18 months. 

The wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise is projected to support around 65,000 UK jobs by 2030. These are highly skilled, well-paid positions, with nuclear sector salaries averaging £45,500 – 20% above the national average. This investment is bringing prosperity to areas of Britain with the greatest need, demonstrating how defence spending delivers real benefits to working people across the country. 

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 10 December 2025.

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Lance Corporal George Hooley, who died in Ukraine on 9 December 2025.

Lance Corporal Hooley died following a tragic accident whilst observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability, away from the front lines. He was 28 years old. 

Lance Corporal Hooley was born on 12 February 1997. He joined the Army in November 2015, attending the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick where he completed the renowned Pre-Parachute Selection Course (P Company). Completing the course top of his cohort as ‘P Company Champion’, he joined The Parachute Regiment. 

Lance Corporal Hooley was an exceptional soldier and an impressive junior leader with extensive operational experience. He progressed swiftly through key promotion courses. He completed The Parachute Regiment’s Junior Non-Commissioned Officers’ course in October 2020, passing with a Distinction grade, and securing promotion to the rank of Lance Corporal. More recently, he completed the Section Commanders’ Battle Course, held at the Infantry Battle School in Brecon, again securing an impressive Distinction grade. As a result of his exceptional performance and potential, Lance Corporal Hooley was due to promote to Corporal in January 2026, and as such, was trusted with the responsibilities of a Corporal on this, his latest, deployment. Lance Corporal Hooley had previously deployed to Afghanistan, Africa, and Eastern Europe. 

His Commanding Officer said:  

Lance Corporal Hooley’s future within The Parachute Regiment was incredibly bright, and I have no doubt that he would have continued to perform at the very front of his peer-group over the coming years. All members of The Parachute Regiment mourn his loss; however, our sorrow is nothing compared to that being felt by his family, our thoughts and prayers are with them at this incredibly difficult time. 

His Company Commander said:  

If you met George Hooley, you remembered it. His energy and enthusiasm were simply extraordinary. He provided spark that lifted others, a drive that inspired, and a zest for life that reminded us all how to live with purpose and joy. And we loved him for it. George had a rare gift: a deep kindness and genuine time for everyone. Whether you were a lifelong friend, a colleague, or someone he had just met, he made you feel valued. He listened – properly listened – and he cared. His door was always open, and his heart even more so. 

At work, he was the model of professionalism. George didn’t just do his job; he excelled at it. A born soldier, he set the standard – the other soldiers watched to learn how things should be done, he made us all better, individually and collectively. He approached every task with dedication, integrity and pride. His colleagues will tell you that he wasn’t just part of the team, he was the character within it. The glue. The laughter. The calm voice of sense. The soldier who made the hard days easy and the good days memorable.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: 

Lance Corporal George Hooley served our country with distinction and professionalism. He was an exceptional soldier who will be very deeply missed.  

My thoughts are with George’s family, loved ones and his colleagues. The tributes that have been paid to him are a testament to his exceptional attitude and ability.  

George’s tragic death reminds us of the courage and commitment with which our outstanding Armed Forces serve every day to protect our nation.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 24 November 2025.

Royal Navy intercepts Russian warship and tanker in the Dover Strait and English Channel whilst RAF P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft deployed to Iceland to patrol North Atlantic.

The UK Armed Forces are on patrol from the English Channel to the High North amid increased Russian activity threatening UK waters.

In the past fortnight, Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Severn intercepted Russian corvette RFN Stoikiy and tanker Yelnya off the UK coast, in a round-the-clock shadowing operation as the Russian vessels sailed through the Dover Strait and westward through the English Channel.

HMS Severn later handed over monitoring duties to a NATO ally off the coast of Brittany, but continued to observe from a distance and remained ready to respond to any unexpected activity.

Commander Grant Dalgleish, HMS Severn’s Commanding Officer, said:

This tasking shows the value of our patrol ships and reinforces the Royal Navy’s close liaison with our NATO allies in safeguarding the British people and protecting the internationally recognised waterways.

I’m immensely proud of the way the ship’s company reacted to this activation, especially coming so quickly after a demanding period of regeneration and operational training.

This comes as the UK has seen a 30% increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters in the past two years.

On Wednesday, the Defence Secretary confirmed that Russian spy ship Yantar – used for gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables – was operating on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland. In a clear message to Putin, the Defence Secretary said: “We see you. We know what you are doing. And we are ready.”

As Yantar lingered in UK’s wider waters, its crew directed lasers at the RAF P-8 pilots tracking it in a reckless and dangerous act. While tracking Yantar, Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset and other civilian ships in the area experienced GPS jamming in a further demonstration of unprofessional behaviour, intended to be disruptive and a nuisance. HMS Somerset’s combat capabilities were not affected.

The UK has a wide range of military options at its disposal to keep UK waters safe. Three RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft have deployed to Keflavik Air Base in Iceland in the largest overseas deployment of the RAF P-8 fleet so far.

The P-8s from 120 Squadron are conducting surveillance operations as part of NATO’s collective defence, patrolling for Russian ships and submarines in the North Atlantic and Arctic.

While in Iceland, RAF crews are working closely with NATO allies including the US and Canada, reinforcing the UK’s NATO-first approach and commitment to Euro-Atlantic security in this new era of threat.

These operations reaffirm the UK’s unwavering commitment to national security and protecting critical undersea infrastructure, underpinning this Government’s Plan for Change.

Wing Commander Higgins, Officer Commanding 120 Squadron, said:

This deployment to Iceland highlights the enduring importance of the North Atlantic and Arctic to the security of the Alliance.

Operating the P-8A Poseidon, we continue that legacy by contributing to NATO’s collective defence and ensuring the security of this strategically critical region.

The UK is stepping up on defence and security, backed by the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, including £4 billion on boosting our drone capabilities and over £1 billion on strengthening air and missile defence to protect the UK homeland.

These latest operations come less than a month after HMS Duncan tracked the movements of Russian destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov, and frigate HMS Iron Duke was dispatched to monitor Russian Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk.

Last month, two advanced RAF surveillance aircraft conducted a 12-hour mission along Russia’s border to monitor NATO’s eastern and northern flanks. A Rivet Joint electronic intelligence aircraft and a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, supported by a US Stratotanker, collectively flew 10,000 miles from the High North, past Belarus and Ukraine, and into the Black Sea.

Both aircraft use advanced sensors to detect Russian activity and deliver critical intelligence for analysis.

This increase in UK Armed Forces activity comes alongside new sanctions. Last week, the Foreign Secretary announced that the UK, US, and Australia are sanctioning Media Land – a Russian cyber crime group responsible for facilitating cyber-attacks on UK-based companies.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 13 November 2025.

All military personnel are to be better protected through the launch of a new programme to prevent and address unacceptable sexual behaviour.

• Defence publishes the first ever tri-Service military sexual harassment survey results as part of the Government’s landmark commitment to halve violence against women and girls.
• Prevention teams will operate from Armed Forces sites in North Yorkshire and Plymouth with regional reach, before rolling out more widely.
• Recruitment is live for six specialist staff to initially train new recruits and reinforce the highest standards of behaviour in the Armed Forces.

The announcement comes alongside the publication of the first ever military-wide sexual harassment survey. Ministers commissioned the first-of-its-kind survey earlier this year to fully understand personnel’s experiences and perceptions of sexual harassment in the military. The results are designed to provide vital data to design and drive prevention programmes, support schemes and contribute to the central Government mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

The new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Taskforce announced earlier this year will tackle the cultural and behavioural root causes of unacceptable sexual behaviour, predominantly against women, in the Armed Forces. Its prevention programme will initially target interventions at young recruits to boost understanding of consent, misogyny, incel culture and harmful online influences against men and women and enforce the highest behavioural standards.

Catterick Garrison, an Army Base in Yorkshire, and Plymouth Naval Base will implement the first change programmes, which will include delivery of interventions in training facilities for our young recruits in Army Foundation College Harrogate and HMS Raleigh. We will then expand to our UK military personnel in Cyprus and RAF Halton in 2026 before wider rollout.

Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones MP said:

All those who choose to serve our country must be able to do so with dignity and respect. As a veteran myself, this mission is deeply personal to me.

By commissioning the UK’s first-ever comprehensive military sexual harassment survey, this Government is establishing, for the first time, a no holds barred baseline to fully confront and address the root causes of the issue and set new standards in transparency and accountability across our Armed Forces. We want our military to be best in class on this issue, and Ministers and Chiefs are working closely together to play our part in the Government’s central mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

The Taskforce will include a multidisciplinary team of VAWG specialists and Armed Forces experts to identify key intervention points, trial a series of targeted initiatives, and scale up those that prove effective.

The Raising our Standards programme is driving the cultural change we need to ensure that everyone in Defence meets the highest standards of behaviour and professionalism. This work is the latest in a series of new initiatives to improve Service life, following the creation of the first Armed Forces Commissioner, a truly independent voice for Service personnel who will hold the Government and single Services to account and report directly to parliament, rather than ministers. Defence is also establishing a tri-Service complaints system, which – for the first time – takes the most serious complaints outside of the single Service chains of command.

Defence continues to invest and support the Victim Witness Care Unit, which provides comprehensive support for victims of serious crime, ensuring that those who come forward receive the care and advocacy they deserve.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17 October 2025.

The remains of an unknown British and an unknown German soldier have been laid to rest together near Ypres on the Western Front.

The burial service, organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), took place at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Poelcapelle British Cemetery in Belgium.

The service was supported by serving soldiers from The Royal Regiment of Artillery and The King’s Troop Royal Regiment of Artillery. Also present were the British and German Defence Attachés to Belgium. The service was conducted by the Reverend Mark Nightingale CF, Chaplain to 9 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps and in the build up to Remembrance commemorations, reflected on the reconciliation between the 2 nations since the Second World War. 

The Rev. Mark Nightingale said: 

It is a privilege to participate in this burial. As we lay to rest two unknown soldiers, one British and one German, we begin to glimpse the peace and reconciliation that God offers us. By honouring their sacrifice in this service, we ultimately realise that in God’s eyes, there are no enemies, only people who are known to him by name. As I reflect, I see that this burial serves as a reminder that our highest calling is not victory in conflict, but harmony in love. We are encouraged to live as individuals who seek peace and speak truth, whilst honouring the commitment of those who have gone before us in this goal, like these two brave soldiers that we have honoured today.

The two men were found together in what appeared to have been a shell hole during the renovation of a cycle path near Ypres in Belgium. During the First World War the location had been astride the Ypres-Straden railway line. No artefacts were found with the remains which could assist in their identification although it was evident that one man was British and the other German. The location where the remains were found was fought over during the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Paschendaele, in October 1917. Owing the high number of casualties still missing in this location, neither man could be identified. 

Rosie Barron, JCCC Caseworker said: 

This was a very poignant ceremony reflecting on the importance of reconciliation and the search for peace between nations. We do not know who these men were or what their beliefs or opinions on the war were. However, both men died for their country and would have suffered the same hardships on the Western Front. May they now rest in peace together.

Earlier this week (15 October 25) a burial took place at Vendresse British Cemetery in the Aisne region of France of an unknown British soldier most likely killed during the First Battle of the Aisne in 1914. Again, no artefacts were found with the remains which would indicate which regiment he belonged to.  

The graves of all 3 men will now be cared for in perpetuity by CWGC. 

Director for the Central and Southern Europe Area of the CWGC, Xavier Puppinck, said:  

We are honoured to commemorate these three brave soldiers from the First World War at our cemeteries in France and Belgium. 

It has been a privilege to recover and work closely with the JCCC in trying to identify who they were. It is rare – and very emotional actually – to have both British and German soldiers buried together, highlighting the shared sacrifice of all those who fought and died. 

Though these men couldn’t be identified by name, we will care for their graves in perpetuity.