Tag: Ministry of Defence

This week, the MDP welcomed Kier Pritchard, former Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, as their new Deputy Chief Constable.

Kier began his career with Wiltshire Police in 1993 and dedicated his service to his home force, following in the footsteps of his late father who served in Wiltshire Constabulary. He has performed many operational roles within front-line policing, criminal investigation, public protection and intelligence.

In 2012, as Detective Chief Superintendent Head of Protective Services, he provided leadership across the specialist operations command for firearms and roads policing, and led the force response to all crime, intelligence, safeguarding and covert policing. As the ACPO child death portfolio holder he developed the national investigative doctrine to professionalise the police and multi-agency response to sudden and unexplained child death.

Kier operated as Assistant Chief Constable Operations from 2014 and graduated from the strategic command course in March 2016. As ACC he led the force response and community policing functions, intelligence directorate, criminal justice, prevention command and the emergency crime and communications centre. As ACC he was the Chief Officer lead for an operational collaboration between Avon and Somerset Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary and Wiltshire Police in the delivery of specialist firearms, roads policing, dog units, firearms training and major crime capabilities.

In 2018, Kier was appointed Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police, a position he held for five successive years until his retirement in June 2023. Upon his appointment, he led the force and partners through two unprecedented major incidents in the city of Salisbury and surrounding town of Amesbury following the Novichok nerve agent attack.

As Chief Constable, Kier chaired the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF) where he coordinated partnership activity in both preparation and response to major events and emergencies, including the protection of our critical national infrastructure. He led the LRF through multiple major incidents, including Covid-19 and the partnership response to extreme weather.

Kier also held the NPCC portfolio for the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme where he worked with the Home Office programme team and national stakeholders to prepare the police service for transition from the Airwave radio system to the new Emergency Services Network.

He is proud to have served as a detective in each rank during his career with Wiltshire Police and to have operated as a hostage and crisis negotiator.

Kier was also a College of Policing assessor and executive coach to underrepresented members of the national talent programme, and in 2021 he graduated from the Cabinet Office National Leadership Centre development programme, where he further harnessed his passion for working with partners and cross-sector leaders.

As MDP DCC, Kier will support Chief Constable Melanie Dales in leading the force and delivering an effective policing service for Defence.

Chief Constable Melanie Dales said:

I am delighted that Kier will be joining us as Deputy Chief Constable. His breadth of senior leadership experience in policing will help strengthen the force as we continue to build our capability to serve Defence, improve our culture, and evolve to face new challenges.

We are all very much looking forward to welcoming Kier to the force and working with him in his new role.

In his spare time, Kier loves running and being with his family. He is married to Anna, a senior crown prosecutor for Wessex CPS, and is the proud father of five children (four sons and one daughter).

Commenting on his appointment as MDP DCC, Kier said:

I am proud to have been given this opportunity to help lead the MDP, as a force which provides unique, specialist policing to protect the nation’s defence and national infrastructure.

It will be an honour to serve Defence, and I am looking forward to the new and exciting challenges this will bring, working together with military and policing colleagues.

• New rifle provides UK troops with an improved lethal capability on the battlefield.
• Rifle more discreet through sight and hearing signature reduction.
• Up to 10,000 weapons could be procured over the next 10 years.

British troops will soon be more lethal on the battlefield, as a new £90 million contract delivers modern, high precision rifles.

The Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system – known as the L403A1 and procured by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) under Project HUNTER – is made up of a new assault rifle fitted with a muzzle signature reduction system and an improved optical sighting system.

The AIW is a modern rifle using the latest in design technology and manufacturing methods, to produce an exceptionally reliable and accurate weapon. The magnified optic means the user is able to engage threats from greater distances; whilst the signature reduction system works to mask the AIW from detection from sight and hearing.

Supplementing the current in-service L85A3, the AIW system has been secured under a £90 million contract with Macclesfield-based company Edgar Brothers, supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by helping sustain approximately 50 jobs at the family-owned company.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

This is another example of how we are committed to investing in the most advanced battlefield equipment to back our troops on the battlefield. This advanced rifle’s ability to help soldiers maintain the stealth edge not only protects them but delivers war-fighting advantage over our adversaries.

An initial £15 million order of 1,620 AIW systems has been placed, with options to procure up to 10,000 systems – totalling £90 million – under the contract over the next decade. The systems will initially be fielded to the Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB) who operate in complex, high threat environments.

DE&S Dismounted Close Combat Portfolio Leader, Colonel Paul Cummings, said:

Project Hunter has been a fabulous example of close collaboration with the user community and strong engagement with industry to deliver game-changing capability at pace. This is another example of the enormous commitment of the men and women in DCC to deliver battle-winning capability into the hands of the user and I’m enormously proud of what they have achieved. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Edgar Brothers as we move into the production phase.

The L403A1 is a high performing modern development of the ArmaLite Rifle (AR), which pushes the boundaries of modern performance. As an AR system, it shares much in common with the rifle systems used by many of the UK’s allies. Given their specialist role, and the critical task of working with and alongside many of the UK’s allies, the platform will enable ASOB to share skills and drills in an efficient manner.

Lt Col Gareth Davies, SO1 SoldierWorks, Military Capability Delivery, Army Headquarters, said:

Project HUNTER has successfully delivered a new weapon option for UK Defence. At the current time this is being procured for the Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB). It offers a marked increase in lethality, and the system includes one of most capable day sights currently available. Importantly the weapon system will be further enhanced by our newest generation of night optics, with which the ASOB are already equipped.

As a key component of the ASOB, the Ranger Regiment will receive the AIW later this year. Made up of four battalions, the Rangers deployed to over 60 countries in their first 12 months of operation, following their formation as part Future Soldier under the Defence Command Paper 2021.

Background

• The contract was placed by the Dismounted Close Combat (DCC) Team within the DE&S Soldier, Training & Special Programmes (STSP) team.
• Edgar Brothers (trading as Ian Edgar LTD) are the UK based prime contractor, who are responsible for sourcing and assembling the sub-systems that make up the Hunter system. The rifle is manufactured by Knights Armament Corporation (US) and the magnified optic sight is manufactured Vortex Optics (US).

• Defence Minister James Cartlidge attends Poland’s largest defence trade show.
• UK deepening defence ties with key Nato Ally, building on furthering of cooperation with Poland through export contracts and deployments.
• Celebrating positive step in Poland’s NAREW ground-based air defence programme.

The UK and Poland have strengthened their defence ties today as Defence Minister James Cartlidge visited MSPO in Kielce, Poland.

The largest defence trade fair in Poland, attracting delegations from across the world, MSPO brings together nations to collaborate on, discuss and view some of the world’s leading defence equipment, capabilities and ambitions.

During the visit, Cartlidge met with the Head of Poland’s National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, and Deputy Defence Minister Michał Wiśniewski, and engaged a number of the UK’s key Defence companies displaying at the event – including MBDA, Babcock and BAE Systems. Cartlidge discussed how the UK defence industry can further support the Polish Armed Forces through future defence exports and deployments.

The UK and Poland are historic defence partners and NATO Allies and will continue to work closely together on key strategic defence programmes, including Poland’s air defence programme, supporting the economies of both nations.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said:

Poland is one of our closest Allies and a key strategic partner as we work together to bolster European security in the wake of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Through crucial defence export programmes, we continue to support Poland’s defence modernisation plans, as they strengthen their defence capabilities.

Earlier this year, the UK and Poland announced the first stage of a programme to deliver the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) to Poland in a £1.9 billion contract – the largest ever defence export contract between the two nations.

In a contract supporting hundreds of jobs across the UK and Poland delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, UK firm MBDA completed the landmark deal with the Polish government in April 2023, agreeing to provide Poland with cutting-edge, ground-based-air-defence capabilities that will protect the country for generations to come.

Today, at MSPO, the Polish government signed an agreement with Polish defence company PGZ, paving the way for Poland to develop another enhanced ground-based air defence system called NAREW, again in co-operation with MBDA.

The UK welcomes the news that the executive agreement on NAREW has been signed between the Polish Ministry of National Defence and PGZ. This is a critical milestone in this important air defence programme which the UK MOD continues to support.

This visit also builds on the UK-Polish Defence Treaty and the UK–Poland Defence and Security Strategic Partnership 2030 announced in July this year, which will be of long-term benefit to the defence, jobs and skills of both nations, strengthening bi-lateral relations.

The UK and Poland are close Allies, with hundreds of British troops deployed to the country at any one time. That includes the recent deployments of Challenger 2 tanks and Sky Sabre air defence systems to Poland.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

It’s a huge honour to be appointed as Defence Secretary. I pay tribute to my predecessor, Ben Wallace. His steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine is matched only by his ongoing commitment to our own brave armed forces, and their families.

I look forward to continuing the government’s unwavering support to Ukrainians at this important time for European and global security, and working with our armed forces who closely defend our nation’s security.

Permanent Secretary David Williams said:

On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, I was pleased to extend a warm welcome to our new Secretary of State for Defence, Grant Shapps MP. He brings extensive knowledge and experience from his previous Cabinet roles, including as a Foreign Office Minister, and most recently the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, and from his membership of the National Security Council.

The department and I look forward to working with the new Defence Secretary on his priorities for defence as we uphold our commitment to protecting our nation and contributing to its prosperity.

Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said:

I welcome our new Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. My message to him is that the nation is safe thanks to the extraordinary commitment of our servicemen and women, and our place within NATO, the world’s largest and strongest defensive alliance.

This Coronation year has demonstrated how much the Armed Forces contribute to our nation, and we are ready to do more.  I look forward to working with the Secretary of State to both learn and implement the lessons from Ukraine, and to continue our journey to become more lethal, faster at deploying, and to embrace technology at scale.

The biography for Grant Shapps can be found on gov.uk here.

Lieutenant Colonel James Baden, a specialist in reconstructive surgery following combat injury, led the UK team delivering training to six Ukrainian medical professionals. The Ukrainian cohort, a mix of military and civilians, underwent training in reconstructive surgery techniques.

The training was held in the Freeman Hospital and Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, where surgical operations could be observed in an NHS theatre.

Further training will be taking place at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM), based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where injured military personnel evacuated from overseas are treated.

Major General Tim Hodgetts CB CBE, UK Surgeon General and Chair of the Committee of Surgeon Generals in NATO, said:

Sharing medical skills and expertise amongst allies is the right thing to do. Both military and civilians injured in Ukraine have similar injury patterns, so sharing the expertise to enhance all patient outcomes equally is also right in this circumstance. Military and Civil collaboration is at the very heart of NATO’s new Medical Support Capstone Concept.

I am hugely impressed by the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Medical Services, their valour, and their dedication to saving lives in the most challenging of circumstances.

In an increasingly abstract world dominated by digital and technology innovation, we still need surgeons with exquisite practical skills to treat the complex and disfiguring wounds of physical combat.

• UK Armed Forces to benefit from enhanced battlefield connectivity
• Contract will boost connection with allies on operations
• Supporting the Government’s priority to grow the economy by backing dozens of UK jobs

Military personnel deployed on the battlefield will benefit from enhanced connectivity, following the award of an £89 million contract.

The five-year contract has been awarded to BAE Systems to design and manufacture a deployable tactical Wide Area Network (WAN) known as ‘TRINITY’ – delivering a highly secure and state-of-the-art battlefield internet capability to UK forces.

This contract named Design and Systems Integration Delivery (DSID) will directly support the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by backing 60 UK jobs based in Dorset. It will also see further investment into UK skills from BAE Systems, their partners and across the supporting supply chain.

Working together with trusted partners, including L3 Harris, KBR and PA Consulting, BAE Systems will combine its defence communications systems expertise and experience to develop, deliver and deploy world-leading network capability to the UK Armed Forces.

Trinity’s resilience is based on its composition. It is made up of a series of nodes, each able to add, access and move data in a secure network. If a number of nodes are damaged in warfare, the rest automatically re-route to maintain optimum network speed and flow of information, making it highly effective.

Replacing the existing Falcon network, due to be retired in 2026, ‘TRINITY’ will ensure UK Armed Forces on land can interact faster with allies, whether operating as a single nation or as part of an international coalition, across different battlefield domains.

Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, said:

In this continually evolving, multi-domain environment it is vital that our personnel have access to world-leading communications capabilities while on operations.

We remain committed to working closely with the best of British industry as they support our endeavour to better connect with our allies and their assets in theatre.

The £89 million will be dedicated to the research and development phase of the programme, with ‘TRINITY’ due to be delivered from December 2025.

David Armstrong, Group Managing Director at BAE Systems’ Digital Intelligence business, said:

In an increasingly complex and fast-paced threat landscape, Trinity will empower the UK Armed Forces with a greater and more efficient view of what is happening, enabling them to make swift, informed decisions when and where it matters most.

By providing this advantage to front-line decision makers, Trinity reinforces our commitment to equipping the UK Armed Forces with the right tools to stay ahead in the ever-evolving battlespace.

‘TRINITY’ is one part of the Land Environment Tactical Communications and Information Systems (LE TacCIS) programme, which is working to provide the next generation of tactical military communications in the land environment.