Tag: Ministry of Defence

Defence Intelligence tweeted President Putin’s invasion plan the week before Russian forces entered Ukraine. Defence Intelligence continues to publish regular intelligence assessments on Twitter to help explain the conflict. It uses a specific language to communicate probability within these assessments.

Intelligence assessments aim to explain something that has happened (insight), or to predict what might happen next (foresight). Intelligence analysts piece together assessments from an incomplete number of jigsaw pieces. Analysts therefore use a shared vocabulary of likelihood that aids clarity for both analysts and their readers, whilst communicating the probability that explanation or prediction is correct.

A common yardstick to convey the language of uncertainty was developed by Defence Intelligence in the early 2000s, and an updated form is now in use across the UK intelligence assessment community. This ensures that government officials understand how likely it is that an event will or did occur.

The yardstick splits the probability scale into seven distinct numerical ranges. Terms are assigned to each probability range. The yardstick was informed by academic research and corresponds to the average reader’s understanding of each term. The scale is not continuous to avoid a false impression of accuracy.

Defence Intelligence is part of Strategic Command. It provides intelligence to decision-makers in the Ministry of Defence, the armed forces, and across wider Government. This includes advice and timely intelligence assessments to guide decisions on policy, support military operations, and inform defence research and equipment programmes.

Over 100 Defence medical specialists have been providing urgent medical assistance to victims of the earthquake in Turkey through a critical care air support team and at the UK Medical Treatment Facility in Turkoglu.

Yesterday (15 February), an RAF Critical Care Air Support Team (CCAST) – consisting of one consultant anaesthetist, five nurses, three medics, a paramedic and a medical equipment technician – flew on a RAF C-130 Hercules to Adiyaman Airport in Turkey, close to one of the regions worst affected by the earthquake.

Last night, patients injured in the earthquake, close family members and Turkish medical staff embarked onto the C-130 before commencing the 550 kilometre journey to Etimesgut, where continued treatment is being given.

Whilst onboard the aircraft, care is provided by RAF Medical Specialists who are trained to provide lifesaving treatment in the most testing conditions. The UK is working alongside Norway and the Netherlands who are also operating C-130s. Each flight can care for and transport up to 27 patients at a time.

Wing Commander David Hall, lead consultant, described the skills the team bring:

The RAF’s Critical Care Air Support Team is always on standby to transfer the most critically ill or injured patients by air. We have a unique capability to rapidly deploy on any aircraft, to anywhere in the world and deliver the highest standards of critical care in the air. The team includes a consultant, two flight nurses, a medic and technical support, and we’re proud to deploy in support of the UK’s disaster response and provide care to the sickest patients.

Meanwhile, a Medical Treatment Facility has been set up by the MOD and FCDO in Turkoglu. 82 personnel from 16 Medical Regiment and the RAF Tactical Medical Wing are working side-by-side with Turkish medical staff and medics from charity UK-Med to provide life saving treatment and support.

UK military personnel supporting relief efforts in Turkey are commanded by Joint Force Headquarters – the UK’s specialist crisis response organisation. The headquarters has been working alongside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to deliver vital support to the people of Turkey, and over 15 tonnes of aid has been flown to Turkey by the RAF including thousands of thermal blankets to keep survivors warm in sub-zero temperatures. £25 million in new funding to support the response to the earthquake was announced yesterday.

The operation is being led by Joint Force Headquarters’ commander Brigadier Reeve who was onboard the UK C-130. He said:

It was a real privilege seeing the RAF CCAST team in action, with our world class doctors and capability on the back of this C-130, helping the people of Turkey when they are most in need.

As a leading member of NATO, the UK is working on a package of further support to Turkey.

Weapons seized by Royal Navy ship HMS Montrose have been presented to the UN as evidence, linking an Iranian state organisation – the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – to the smuggling of weapon systems in violation of a UN Security Council Resolution.

On two occasions in early 2022, HMS Montrose seized Iranian weapons from speedboats operated by smugglers in international waters south of Iran. The items included surface-to-air-missiles and engines for land attack cruise missiles, in contravention of UN Security Council Resolutions 2231 and 2140 (2015).

The weapons were presented to representatives of the United Nations who provide an assessment of the conflict in Yemen and Iranian nuclear activity. The interdictions were referred to in the Secretary General’s UNSCR 2231 report published in Dec 2022 and are expected to feature in the UNSCR 2140 annual report that will shortly be released.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

The UK is committed to upholding international law and will continue to counter Iranian activity that contravenes United Nation Security Council Resolutions and threatens peace across the world.

That is why we have a permanent Royal Navy deployment in the Gulf region, conducting vital maritime security operations and working in support of an enduring peace in Yemen.

Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon said:

Once again the Iranian regime has been exposed for its reckless proliferation of weapons and destabilising activity in the region.

Iran’s sustained military support to the Houthis and continued violation of the arms embargo has stoked further conflict and undermined UN-led peace efforts.

The UK will continue to act to protect the security of our partners and hold Iran to account.

A key piece of evidence presented by the UK was a commercial quadcopter drone designed for reconnaissance activities. By decrypting the internal memory of the uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) controllers, the UK Ministry of Defence discovered the records of 22 test flights conducted at the IRGC Aerospace Force Headquarters and test facility in western Tehran. The UAV was in the same shipment as a number of Surface to Air Missiles and components for the Iranian Project 351 land attack cruise missile.  This evidence indicated a direct link between the Iranian state and the smuggling of missile systems being used by the Houthis to attack the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The Royal Navy has a permanent deployment of a Type 23 Frigate, equipped with a Royal Marine boarding party and a Wildcat helicopter to support maritime security operations in the Gulf of Oman. After four years continuous service in the region, HMS Montrose was replaced by HMS Lancaster in 2022. The UK stands alongside its partners in the region and is committed to disrupting the illegal flow of these weapons systems as well as narcotics and human trafficking.

The threat posed by long range weapons made in Iran is not limited to the Middle East. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Iran has supplied hundreds of Shahed one way attack drones to Russia; these transfers violate UNSCR 2231. These attacks have killed civilians and damaged critical national infrastructure (such as power sub stations) far from the front lines of the conflict.

The UK and Italy have agreed to further strengthen military collaboration as Defence Ministers Ben Wallace and Guido Crosetto signed a new Joint-Statement of Intent on bilateral defence co-operation.

The agreement was signed on Thursday following a bilateral meeting and will see deeper cooperation and collaboration across military operations, particularly in the space and cyber domains.

The ability of the UK and Italian armed forces to operate together and develop shared capabilities to minimise costs is also part of the agreement.

During a bilateral meeting, Ministers discussed the Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, as well as the security situation in Libya and ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

Through this new defence agreement with Italy, our long-standing ally and friend, we are deepening our defence collaboration at a vital time for security across Europe and the wider world.

Working together as NATO allies to support Ukraine, and also on joint projects including the Global Combat Air Programme, we continue to promote our collective industries and increase our capabilities.

The Defence Ministers were joined by UK and Italian Foreign and International Trade Ministers at the Pontignano Conference – the biggest and longest-running UK-Italian diplomatic event, taking place on an annual basis.

The meeting of the UK and Italian Defence Secretaries was the first since the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) agreement – a trilateral project between the UK, Italy, and Japan, which was announced by the Prime Minister in December and will deliver the next phase of a combat air fighter jet development.

Due to enter service by 2035, the ambition is for a next-generation jet fighter, enhanced by a network of capabilities such as uncrewed aircraft, sensors, weapons and advanced data systems. Collaboration among the three advanced industrial nations allows sharing of advanced technologies to get the best military capabilities, shares the cost of development as we modernise our capabilities and will strengthen the industrial base in each country.

As part of the trip, the UK Defence Secretary also visited the Leonardo’s aircraft division in Turin, where he met the company’s CEO and discussed the work on GCAP.

• Steel has been cut on third submarine in future nuclear deterrent programme.
• Supporting tens of thousands of jobs and apprenticeships in north-west England and across the UK.
• Continued momentum on one of the UK’s largest defence programmes.

A significant milestone has been reached in the build programme for the Dreadnought ballistic missile submarine programme.

In a ceremony today, the steel has been cut on Warspite, the third of four new Dreadnought Class submarines, currently in build at BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness site.

Supporting tens of thousands of jobs across the UK, with 13,500 in the north-west of England specifically, this manufacturing milestone marks significant progress in one of the most complex engineering projects ever undertaken in the UK.

With 605 apprentices and 126 graduates also currently based in Barrow-in-Furness, the Dreadnought programme brings huge benefits to the BAE Systems’ Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge, training the next generation of high-skilled engineers to build and maintain the UK’s submarine capability into the future.

Defence Procurement Minister, Alex Chalk KC, said:

Our nuclear deterrent protects every UK citizen from the most extreme threats, every minute of every day, and progress on the Dreadnought Class is crucial to maintaining our national security.

This milestone is a significant step forward in the Dreadnought programme, supporting thousands of jobs and apprenticeships across the country, and protecting the UK and our allies for decades to come.

Comprising four new ballistic nuclear submarines, Dreadnought, Valiant, Warspite and King George VI, the Dreadnought Class will replace the Vanguard Class fleet.

Work will now continue on Warspite, alongside the first two boats – Dreadnought and Valiant – incorporating some of the most advanced systems ever built and using world-leading technology to deliver an effective and intensely formidable capability.

Rear Admiral Donald Doull, Senior Responsible Officer, Dreadnought, said:

Today is an important step in the ongoing delivery of the Continuous at Sea Deterrent. It is a key milestone for the Programme’s mission to replace the current Vanguard Class submarines with four Dreadnought Class submarines, enabling their successful entry into service.

Successful delivery of the Dreadnought Programme is a challenge that will take the determined effort of everybody with a responsibility for supporting the Programme – getting to this milestone is a huge achievement, which reflects the personal and collective commitment of all concerned.

With each submarine approximately 153.6 metres – around the length of three Olympic swimming pools – each boat will also boast 26.4 miles of pipework and more than 20,000 cables stretching 215 miles – further than travelling between London and Leeds.

The Dreadnought submarines, which will start to enter service from the early 2030s, will protect not only our own vital interests but also those of our closest allies against the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life.

Managing Director, BAE Systems Submarines, Steve Timms said:

Today’s milestone is a really significant moment for the thousands of employees here at BAE Systems and across the submarines enterprise who are working together to deliver the Dreadnought Class.

We are immensely proud of the role we play in delivering this truly national endeavour for the Royal Navy and our contribution to protecting national security.

The Dragon Group, named after its first meeting aboard HMS Dragon in 2018, is a regular meeting of Defence Chiefs from the Gulf and Middle East. The meeting focused on global and regional security challenges, including the impact of Iran’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

During the meeting, the Chiefs viewed recovered Iranian weapons destined for Yemen that were seized by Royal Navy ship HMS Montrose in the Gulf of Oman last year.

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

The flow of Iranian weapons to Russia’s war in Ukraine demonstrates that there is no easy geographical distinction on matters of defence. Through the Dragon Group, the United Kingdom and our Gulf partners are better able to understand the interconnected forces that shape our shared security and prosperity.

Today’s discussions underline the continuing importance the UK places on the Gulf, our commitment to working collectively to address the region’s challenges, and our ambition to strengthen cooperation between our respective Armed Forces.

The UK has historic links with countries in the region and remains committed to working in partnership to secure peace, prosperity and security. The UK routinely has over 1,000 military personnel in the region, in addition to aircraft and ships, contributing to counter-terrorism, anti-piracy and counter-smuggling operations.

Members of the Dragon Group include Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Meetings of the group take place twice a year and the UK has recently hosted summits at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth off the Gulf of Oman.