Tag: Ministry of Defence

  • PRESS RELEASE : DCDC celebrates 10 years of Swedish Armed Forces cooperation [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : DCDC celebrates 10 years of Swedish Armed Forces cooperation [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 8 June 2023.

    Members of the Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre (DCDC) and Swedish Armed Forces gathered to mark their decade-long partnership of working together.

    The occasion saw the Swedish Chief of the Defence Staff Lieutenant General Michael Claesson and the UK Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Gwyn Jenkins join members of DCDC and Swedish delegates in Main Building, London to mark the 10-year milestone.

    As well as acknowledging the success of the relationship and the mutual benefits the cooperation brings, the event provided an opportunity to consider next steps and how to deepen and leverage the cooperation further.

    Attending the momentous occasion, Lt Gen Michael Claesson announced:

    The last ten years have seen extraordinary changes and developments in both global and European geopolitics – including the war in Ukraine and the greatest change in Swedish security policy since more than two hundred years ago. As a potential NATO-member the cooperation with DCDC will be an even more important part in preparing the defence of our nation for a changing world and new challenges – together with our partners.

    The following day saw Director DCDC address staff in a townhall, commenting on how our shared insights have helped inform both nations in ways that are valuable and build resilience.

    We look forward to the next decade of working alongside our Swedish allies.

    How it all began

    10 years ago, the then Swedish Director of Strategy concluded that collaboration in the intellectual space was the key to helping achieve efficiency within the Swedish Armed Forces.

    DCDC was highlighted as the only Defence organisation in the world that provided research on the future, as well as concepts and doctrine.

    Colonel Joachim Isacsson, now DCDC’s senior Swedish officer, was tasked with making the cooperation work in practice. Now in his 10th year working at DCDC, Joachim shares his reflections a decade on:

    The cooperation has taken huge steps forward and forms a direct part of Swedish Defence strategy and implementation of NATO doctrine. I am immensely proud of what we have collectively achieved.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Ukrainian military chaplains receive training from British Army [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ukrainian military chaplains receive training from British Army [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 7 June 2023.

    • Ten Ukrainian military chaplains have completed two weeks of training with their UK counterparts in the first course of its kind.
    • The programme seeks to further develop their chaplaincy, whose members deploy to the front line to provide vital spiritual and pastoral support to personnel.
    • Chaplaincy is a ‘critical capability for Ukrainian commanders’, says British Army’s Chaplain General.

    Ukrainian military chaplains have graduated from the first course of its kind to be run on British soil.

    For the last two weeks, ten chaplains have been embedded with the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department of the British Army to learn more about providing pastoral care, spiritual support and moral guidance during military operations – and the post-war rebuilding period that ultimately follows.

    They will now deploy to the front line of Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, where their task will be to build hope and restore spirits as troops battle to reclaim Ukraine’s sovereign territory.

    The course, which was developed by British military chaplains, and supported by the UK Armed Forces under Operation Orbital, came in response to a request from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, aimed to equip participants with the religious and practical resources needed to support personnel through the most challenging aspects of operations – from bereavement and loss, to mental health difficulties.

    The Reverend Michael D Parker KHC CF, Chaplain General, said:

    It has been the greatest of privileges to work with our Ukrainian Partner Forces to develop an understanding of chaplaincy within high intensity warfare. Together, we have examined the centrality of the moral component of fighting power and the part chaplains play in monitoring and sustaining this. They have been able to teach us as much as we have been able to teach them.

    The ability to deliver pastoral care, spiritual support and moral guidance has made chaplaincy a critical capability for Ukrainian commanders. Chaplains are in demand and it is truly humbling to be asked to support them in deepening their understanding of their role within war. These ten chaplains have answered the call of their nation; they are no longer just our international partners, they are our colleagues and friends. I pray that God will bless, protect and guide them as they return to Ukraine.

    There are currently 160 chaplains within the growing, multi-faith Chaplaincy branch of the Ukrainian military, which was formally established in 2021. There are aspirations to grow their ranks to 738 chaplains, to ensure that spiritual and pastoral support is available across units, hospitals and training sites.

    Reverend Robin Richardson, Chaplain, Royal Army Chaplain’s Department, was responsible for developing the programme. He said:

    Wherever there are people, they need the spiritual support, moral guidance and pastoral care that chaplains bring, whether they are in units, in hospitals or training establishments.

    These ministers are driven by their faith to step out of the door, unarmed, into the face of any enemy so that they can provide care for people of all beliefs. They are operating in circumstances that we could never dream of experiencing ourselves, drawing on their faith to support those navigating the chaos of war and doing everything they can to give soldiers hope.

    The hope is that the planning tools, religious and pastoral resources, and hands-on experience we have provided will only make them more effective in their roles on the front line.

    A significant proportion of the programme was devoted to delivering chaplaincy within an operational context, with participants supporting troops who are currently undergoing battlefield training in Wiltshire as part of the UK-led training of Ukrainian recruits. The bespoke programme highlights the broad range of training the UK has delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which has also included basic infantry training, medical training, and training on Challenger 2 tanks.

    Formed in 1796, the Army Chaplains’ Department has become synonymous with bringing comfort, care and compassion to those caught up in war. Since 1945, Chaplains have served wherever British soldiers are sent – caring for the whole force and their families irrespective of faith, world philosophy or status.

    The UK and its allies have to date trained more than 15,000 Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel in areas such as the fundamentals of frontline combat and more specialised training. The five-week training programme for basic recruits sees them receive instruction in weapons handling, battlefield first aid, fieldcraft, patrol tactics and the Law of Armed Conflict, enabling them to effectively defend their country on their return to Ukraine.

    The UK Government provided £2.3 billion of military aid to Ukraine in 2022 and the Prime Minister has committed to match this in 2023, having already supplied more than 10,000 anti-tank missiles, 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition (with 100,000 more planned for supply in 2023), vital air defence capability, including more than a hundred anti-aircraft guns, as well as self-propelled artillery.

  • PRESS RELEASE : £125 million air crew contract supports UK jobs in the Southwest [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £125 million air crew contract supports UK jobs in the Southwest [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 5 June 2023.

    A £125 million contract has been awarded to Ascent Flight Training, a joint venture, to create the next generation of aircrew.

    • A £125 million contract has been awarded to Ascent Flight Training, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin UK and Babcock International, to create the next generation of aircrew.
    • Contract will ensure the continuation of training to key members of Mission Aircrew prior to the introduction of a new system in 2026.
    • It will create five new roles at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall and will sustain 43 jobs across the Southwest delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy.

    A new £125 million contract will deliver vital mission aircrew training, and support around 50 UK jobs.

    The training will take place at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall under the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS). This critical venture will prepare Royal Navy observers and RAF weapon system officers to operate onboard Wildcat, Merlin, Poseidon and Rivet Joint aircraft.

    Their training will be conducted by a collaboration of civilian instructors and military staff operating from 750 Naval Air Squadron. The continuation of this contract will also create five new roles at RNAS Culdrose and sustain 43 jobs across the supply chain. delivering on the Prime Ministers priority of growing the economy.

    Lasting three years, the contract will run until June 2026 the future intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) and Rear Crew Training System (FIRCTS) programme replaces it.

    Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:

    It is through our talented people and our partnerships with industry that we can deploy cutting-edge capabilities wherever they are required.

    Not only will the new Rear Crew contract ensure the continuation of a vital intelligence gathering capability, but also secure dozens of jobs in the south-west.

    By replacing the current training system with a new Airborne Mission Trainer, the Rear Crew Sustainment programme will keep aircraft in service for longer. The Avenger aircraft that is currently used will be extensively modified to accommodate an electronically scanned array radar, an electro optical camera, and reconfiguration of the cabin area and mission consoles, extending its service life 10 years from 2023 to 2033.

    Additional upgrades to the ground-based training equipment will ensure better coherence across training systems.

    DE&S General Director Air, Vice Admiral Rick Thompson said:

    The provision of this contract will ensure the continuation of the critical training required for the production of qualified mission aircrew needed for front line duties.

    Rear crew observers in the Royal Navy are a key part of a flight crew on board Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, where they are expected to navigate, operate communications systems and on occasions control the weaponry.

    In the RAF, a Weapon Systems Officer manages the sensors and weapons of their aircraft during operational missions, whilst at the same time gathering intelligence and supporting forces on the ground.

    UKMFTS team leader at DE&S, Michelle Ostergaard said:

    This contract award is a major achievement by the UKMFTS Delivery Team, in collaboration with our industry colleagues. The continuation of Mission Aircrew training at RNAS Culdrose and obsolescence removal programme over the next three years will pave the way for the Future ISTAR and Rear Crew Training System (FIRCTS), which will significantly uplift the training system capability and capacity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : British fighter jets and helicopters train to attack targets at sea, alongside NATO allies in Estonia [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : British fighter jets and helicopters train to attack targets at sea, alongside NATO allies in Estonia [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 4 June 2023.

    The UK has been conducting major multi-domain training activity in Estonia throughout May, exercising alongside more than 10,000 personnel from 11 NATO countries.

    RAF Typhoon fighter jets and Army Air Corps Apache helicopters concluded a training exercise off the coast of Estonia on Friday, in which they practiced firing their heavy machine guns and advanced missiles at targets in the sea.

    The exercise, named Spring Tempest, was conducted jointly with Estonia and France and demonstrated the ability of the UK and its Allies to deliver precision strikes while operating deep in enemy battlespace.

    The Apache attack helicopters, from the Army Air Corps Aviation Taskforce (1AAC ATF), were armed for their mission with Hellfire missiles, CRV7 rockets and 30mm rounds, while the Typhoon jets, from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW), were armed with Paveway IV laser guided bombs and 27mm armour piercing rounds.

    Wing Commander Scott MacColl, 140 Expeditionary Air Wing’s Commanding Officer, said:

    Exercise Spring Tempest has been an outstanding opportunity to integrate effects across the Land, Maritime and Air domains. Working with the Royal Navy and Army has allowed us to exercise high-end skill sets, while enhancing interoperability across a broad range of NATO allies.

    The flexibility to operate effectively across differing environments demonstrates our key contribution to collective defence and regional security. As important, the scale of this exercise further develops Alliance cohesion and cross nation understanding.

    The mission was supported by a Forward Air Controller, operating nearby from a Wildcat helicopter. Both types of helicopter worked in tandem with ground-based personnel to refuel and rearm before transiting back to the mission area.

    This training follows on from Exercise Spring Storm, the largest annual military exercise in Estonia involving the UK-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), which saw more than 1,500 UK soldiers training alongside more than 10,000 personnel from 11 NATO countries.

    At last year’s NATO Leaders Summit in Madrid, the UK committed to increase the size of its contribution and capability, with this year’s exercise marking the first time the UK has conducted a brigade-level deployment to Estonia – involving hundreds more personnel being deployed from the UK.

    Land-based training exercises saw UK soldiers, deployed to bolster the eFP under the Army’s Operation CABRIT, as well as tanks and armoured vehicles, practicing live firing in a series of different scenarios, conducting trench assaults, reconnaissance missions, vehicle manoeuvres, and combined arms warfare.

    Commander of Op CABRIT, Brigadier Giles Harris, said:

    Exercise Spring Tempest clearly demonstrates the successful integration of our land, aviation and air capabilities. It comes as we end Exercise Spring Storm 2023, the largest iteration of its kind with some 14,000 personnel taking part across land, sea and air domains. Through rigorous training with our allies, we prove we are a capable, flexible multinational force.

    The Royal Navy’s amphibious assault ship, HMS Albion, carrying approximately 550 sailors and Royal Marines, has joined up with the RAF and the Army to take part in the NATO training exercises happening in the region. During recent weeks, she has landed marines from 45 Commando for a dawn beach raid exercise.

    The ship and crew also supported a further training exercise last weekend off the coast of Paldiski, which saw the three services testing their capability in a fully-integrated manner. Typhoon jets, Apache, and Wildcat helicopters flew in a tight, programmed formation overhead, as the Royal Marines transported soldiers from the Queen’s Royal Hussars and their 62-tonne main battle tanks from the shore into HMS Albion’s dock.

    Captain Marcus Hember, HMS Albion’s Commanding Officer, said:

    It is not often the Royal Navy, RAF and Army are in the same place at the same time with major assets.

    This gave us the opportunity to test how we can work together at sea, proving again the Royal Navy can move Army heavy equipment on and off a shoreline whilst being safely covered air by the RAF and Army Air Corps.

    The eFP provides a continuous NATO presence along its eastern border, with deployed troops acting as a deterrence against any aggression towards the Alliance’s borders.

    The RAF has also been bolstering NATO’s presence, currently leading the Alliance’s air policing mission in Estonia with more than 200 personnel based at Amari Air Base, which has led to several air intercepts of Russian aircraft by RAF fighter jets.

    The operational activity underlines the UK’s commitment to European security, which is vital to delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the economy.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK commitment to Indo-Pacific reaffirmed as global summit takes place in Singapore [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK commitment to Indo-Pacific reaffirmed as global summit takes place in Singapore [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 June 2023.

    UK ministers have attended the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this week.

    Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Foreign, Commonwealth, & Development Office (FCDO) Minister of State, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, met with global leaders in Singapore for the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue this week.

    Their participation reconfirms the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, a region critical to the UK’s economy, security, and our commitment to an open and stable international order.

    The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia’s foremost defence summit for global leaders and ministers to debate the region’s most pressing security challenges with a series of plenary sessions and bilateral discussions.

    During the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Defence Secretary addressed the audience, alongside ministers from Canada and the Philippines, focused on ‘Building a stable and balanced Asia-Pacific’ and regional cooperation.

    In March, the Prime Minister announced a deal to join CPTPP – a trade bloc in the Indo-Pacific, which will now have a total GDP of £11 trillion. During his visit to Japan for G7 last month, almost £18 billion of new investment into the UK from Japanese businesses was announced by the Prime Minister, creating more well-paid jobs in the UK and helping grow the economy.

    This is in addition to a new semiconductor partnership with Japan and critical minerals partnerships with Canada and Australia; and the Global Combat Air Programme with Japan and Italy, announced last year.

    Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

    It has been a great pleasure to meet with my counterpart Dr Ng Eng Hen here in Singapore and to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue to meet defence ministers from across the Indo-Pacific. Singapore is a trading powerhouse that we have much in common with.

    We understand that Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security is indivisible and that upholding the rules-based order is a collective effort – that is why organisations like ASEAN are so important. This is why we have applied to join ADMM+, a demonstration of our commitment to strengthening defence and security in the Indo-Pacific. We are committed to promoting prosperity and stability in the region.

    Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said:

    Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific prosperity and security are tied more closely together than ever before, and we must work jointly to protect the rules-based international order to safeguard our futures.

    The UK is committed to playing a full and active role in ensuring a free, safe and open Indo-Pacific, working with partners in ASEAN and beyond to tackle global challenges.

    Arriving in the region earlier this week, the Defence Secretary met with his Singapore counterpart, Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen, on Friday. They discussed continued bilateral cooperation and our partnership through important groups including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).

    The Defence Secretary also held a series of bilateral meetings while in Singapore, with ministers from China, Indonesia, and New Zealand.

    On Friday, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace visited the FPDA wharf at Sembawang Naval Installation where he met Commanders from Australia and New Zealand.

    The UK and Singapore are both members of the FPDA, now in their 52nd year. Founded in 1971, the FPDA are a series of agreements between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK, with the group seeking to strengthen defence and security in the Indo-Pacific and work together to promote stability in the region. Defence Ministers from FPDA nations met earlier today to discuss continued collaboration and strengthening the group.

    In 2021, the UK was delighted to become an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia, including Singapore. The UK’s Dialogue Partner status was formalised in August 2021, the first dialogue partner ASEAN has included in 25 years.

    That same year, the UK deployed Royal Navy ships HMS Spey and HMS Tamar to the Indo-Pacific, following a successful Carrier Strike Group deployment, as part of the UK’s commitment to regional peace and stability. The Prime Minister recently confirmed that the UK’s Carrier Strike Group will return to the region in 2025.

    The summit follows a busy few months, during which the UK has taken concrete actions to take advantage of post-Brexit freedoms with an ambitious trade policy in the Indo-Pacific.

    More than 1.7 million British citizens live in the Indo-Pacific and our trading relationships with the region were worth over £250bn in 2022. By 2030, the Indo-Pacific is expected to account for more than 40% of global GDP and the region is critical to the UK, to our economy, our security and our values, upholding the international rules and norms that underpin free trade, security and stability. With 60% of global trade passing though shipping routes in the Indo-Pacific, security there has a direct impact in households in the UK.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Outer Hebrides missile defence exercise brings NATO together [June 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Outer Hebrides missile defence exercise brings NATO together [June 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 2 June 2023.

    A multinational exercise at the MOD Hebrides Range in Scotland last month saw 4,000 service personnel from 13 nations hone their skills and connect with allies.

    Exercise FORMIDABLE SHIELD, designed to test the ballistic missile defence capabilities of NATO and its partner nations, highlighted how integration between platforms and nations can be a significant advantage in the battlespace.

    Taking place between 8-26 May 2023 and featuring platforms such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning 2, the exercise saw the air, land, and maritime domains mastered by NATO.

    Major General Robin Anderton-Brown, Director of Capability at Strategic Command, said:

    The importance of our responsibility for integration across Defence and with our allies was evident on Exercise FORMIDABLE SHIELD. The exercise was a clear demonstration of the coherence of the alliance, and the importance of the need to share and fuse data and information between nations to defeat high speed missile threats.

    As Defence’s integrator, Strategic Command will continue to support this important NATO exercise and exploit key lessons to enhance Defence’s digital capabilities.

    A total of more than 20 ships, 35 aircraft, and eight ground units, including radar platforms and the US M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), took part in the biennial exercise.

    By working together with our allies and partners, as well as ensuring that the single services within UK Defence are integrated, we can deter and defeat threats to our collective security and stability.

    Graham Ball, Deputy Director of Integration at Strategic Command, said:

    FORMIDABLE SHIELD demonstrates the value and necessity of working with our allies to drive integration – meaning that we, and our partners, can act in way that is greater than the sum of our collective parts.

    The deterrent effect of the fused and capable defensive systems, as tested on FORMIDABLE SHIELD, have applicability across the spectrum of conflict – supporting campaigning and helping to protect our shared interests.

    The exercise places an emphasis on not only working together, but also adapting and developing rather than repeating the same drills each iteration.

    As a prominent example of integration, HMS Defender linked up with an RAF Typhoon and HMS Kent, via satellite, to intercept an incoming missile using an air defence system that was first developed in a joint programme with France and Italy, and is now being upgraded at industrial sites across the UK.

    Rear Admiral James Morley, Deputy Commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), said:

    FORMIDABLE SHIELD is the premier Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) and live fire rehearsal in the European theatre, and highlights our proficiency in seamlessly integrating allied and partner maritime and air forces into combined operations.

    As Defence’s integrator, Strategic Command is working to ensure that a culture of integration is fostered throughout the military and beyond.

    Driving integration, along with leading the cyber and electromagnetic domain, are important concepts that Strategic Command will incorporate into its exhibition stand at Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) on 12-15 Sep 2023 at ExCeL, London.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine thanks UK for continued military aid during defence secretary’s visit to Kyiv [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine thanks UK for continued military aid during defence secretary’s visit to Kyiv [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 25 May 2023.

    Ben Wallace held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov, in which they discussed priorities for arming Ukraine to achieve victory against Russia.

    Ukraine’s defence minister personally thanked Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for the UK’s continued military support for Ukraine, during a series of meetings held this week in Kyiv.

    The UK Defence Secretary met his counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov, during a visit to Kyiv, after the UK became the first country to provide Ukraine with long-range precision strike capability this month.

    The Defence Secretary’s visit came after the Prime Minister hosted President Zelenskyy at Chequers last week and again met him at the G7 in Hiroshima on Sunday.

    During a bilateral meeting, the defence ministers discussed how long-range strike capabilities would further help the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to achieve victory against Russia.

    Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, said:

    I was pleased to visit Kyiv again to meet with my good friend Oleksii Reznikov to discuss the next stages of Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s illegal invasion.

    The UK continues to offer both equipment, training and advice to Ukraine’s armed forces.

    I also visited some of the military commanders who have been so bravely pushing back Russian forces.

    The ministers also discussed Ukraine’s ambitions to join NATO, ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius.

    Earlier this month, the Defence Secretary announced to the House of Commons that the UK would donate Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine in direct response to Russia’s continued brutality, and its continued long-range missile strikes against civilian targets in Ukraine. Storm Shadow is an advanced weapon system with the capability to strike targets at a range of over 250km with precision, and will add to the list of capabilities that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are able to deploy to defend themselves against Russian military aggression in Ukraine.

    The donation was the latest milestone in the UK’s continued military support for Ukraine, having previously paved the way for the supply of modern Western main battle tanks with the Prime Minister’s commitment to supply a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks.

    The UK Government provided £2.3 billion of military aid to Ukraine in 2022 and the Prime Minister has committed to match this in 2023, having already supplied more than 10,000 anti-tank missiles, 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition (with 100,000 more planned for supply in 2023), more than a hundred anti-aircraft guns, self-propelled artillery, and trained more than 15,000 AFU recruits, with support from our Allies.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Experts convene for Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Experts convene for Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 25 May 2023.

    International experts have convened in London for 25th Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference.

    • More than 99% of declared chemical weapons stockpiles destroyed to date
    • International experts meet to address remaining chemical weapons challenges

    Scientists, technical experts, policy officials and non-governmental organisations from across the world congregated at the 25th Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference in London to share experiences and lessons and address remaining challenges.

    The Conference has been hosted by the Ministry of Defence and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), in close collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense. The annual conference is crucial to facilitating conversations on the demilitarisation of chemical weapons.

    As more than 99% of declared chemical weapons stockpiles have been destroyed, and with the remainder scheduled to be destroyed this year, this year’s conference addressed the future of demilitarisation. Speakers expanded the remit by presenting on topics such as biotoxins and the capability of states not party to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

    Delivering the closing remarks of the Conference, UK Defence Minister Baroness Goldie reflected on key successes, such as 72,000 metric tonnes of the declared chemical warfare agents across the world being verifiably destroyed – as well as condemning those who have used and retained chemical weapons – acknowledging the importance of holding those responsible to account.

    Defence Minister, Baroness Goldie, said:

    Chemical weapons still represent one of the greatest threats to peace and security that we face today. We must redouble our resolve, summoning the courage and optimism required to finish the job of ridding the world of these deadly weapons, neutralising current and future risks. Together, we can ensure we make this world a far safer place for the next generation.

    OPCW Director General, Fernando Arias said:

    This year, the OPCW celebrates its 26th anniversary. It is now up to all of us, to consolidate and strengthen our disarmament gains, and stay the course, we started in 1997, to exclude completely the possibility of the use of this type of abhorrent weapons with a total destruction and zero tolerance.

    As joint hosts of the conference, Dstl plays a lead role in support of global demilitarisation and has an ongoing programme disposing of current and historic chemical weapons.

    Dstl Chief Executive, Paul Hollinshead said:

    Dstl appreciates and supports the work of the OPCW Laboratory in facing these emerging challenges [biotoxins]. We are immensely proud that under the MOD funding and Dstl technical leadership, a project that utilises the new Chem Tech Centre to develop more comprehensive analytical techniques to identify scheduled biotoxins in both environmental and biomedical samples will be established.

    As the most successful multilateral arms control treaty with 193 States Parties, the CWC covers the vast majority of the global population. Our small part in that community has massive influence, which has time and time again changed the world for the better. The wider capability of our national protective programmes keep our troops safe through the deployment of advanced technology and the deterrent factor that technology provides.

    U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs, the Honourable Ms. Deborah Rosenblum said:

    No nation, no government, can be successful in the fight against chemical weapons threats in isolation. We need each other and the best ideas industry, academia, and the NGO communities have to offer.

    That is why this conference is so valuable. There is a rich history of government and industry partners working together to advance counter and non-proliferation objectives. Together, we have destroyed nearly all of the world’s declared chemical weapons.

    Continued collaboration will be essential to tackling future challenges. I encourage you to share your ideas about how this conference can continue to be fit for purpose and to advance our progress toward the ultimate objective of eliminating this class of WMD.

    The Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997, banning chemical weapons, and requiring states parties to destroy any existing stockpiles. In 1998 the first Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation conference was held, and this has continued to be hosted annually by the MOD and Dstl.

    The Convention requires global cooperation to affect lasting change and address chemical weapons use, as highlighted by chemical weapon attacks including in Russia on Mr. Alexey Navalny in 2020, in Salisbury in the UK in 2018, and the numerous chemical weapon attacks by the Assad regime in Syria.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK and Czechia strengthen defence export prospects [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK and Czechia strengthen defence export prospects [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 25 May 2023.

    The UK and Czechia discuss future defence export prospects, building on the PM’s priority to grow the UK economy.

    The UK and Czechia have strengthened defence export prospects as new Defence Minister James Cartlidge visited the International Defence and Securities Technologies Fair (IDET) in Brno today [Thursday 25 May].

    Visiting stalls from some of the UK’s key Defence companies, including SUPACAT, Marshall Land Systems and BAE Systems, Cartlidge discussed how the UK defence industry can further support the Czech Armed Forces through defence exports and government-to-government support.

    Meeting with senior government officials, Cartlidge outlined how the UK would continue to support Czechia, building on a long-standing defence and security partnership between the two nations.

    Czechia is about to complete negotiations to sign a contract with UK-based defence company, SUPACAT, for 24 High Mobility Transport (HMT) vehicles for their Armed Forces, known in the British Army as the JACKAL series of reconnaissance and long range patrol vehicles. The UK has been producing these vehicles for more than ten years, with contracts delivering on the Prime Minister’s priorities to grow the economy and support UK jobs.

    Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said:

    We have a strong defence relationship with our Czech counterparts, standing firm together against Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, as part of NATO.

    Building on this existing partnership, we remain committed to ensuring we continue to work together, offering the best of British industry to support the military capabilities of our close NATO Ally.

    The strong defence partnership between the UK and Czechia is showcased by the British Military Assistance Training Team (Czechia), in place for 23 years and jointly delivering UK thought leadership and career and tactical training courses to 15 countries across the region, including Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia.

    Czech and British soldiers have served alongside each other for more than 20 years in the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, as well as (under EU and UN mandates) Mali and elsewhere in Africa.

    Czechia is very much a central European standard-bearer for Ukraine, proportionally ahead of many larger European nations in having providing over £1.5 billion in lethal and non-lethal aid since the conflict begun.

    Earlier this year, Czechia and UK were both part of a group of European nations that signed The Tallinn Pledge, committing to collectively pursue delivery of an unprecedented set of donations including main battle tanks, heavy artillery, air defence, ammunition, and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s illegal invasion.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Extension of UK commitment to NATO’s Kosovo Force announced during ministerial visit to Western Balkans [May 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Extension of UK commitment to NATO’s Kosovo Force announced during ministerial visit to Western Balkans [May 2023]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 23 May 2023.

    The UK will continue its commitment to NATO’s Kosovo Force until at least 2026, bolstering security in the region.

    The UK’s contribution to the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) Mission in Kosovo will continue until at least 2026, the Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, has announced during a visit to the region.

    During today’s visit to Pristina, he held conversations with Kosovo’s President, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, and Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, as well as discussions with Defence Minister Armend Mehaj, and Commander of the KFOR Mission.

    Kosovo is an important partner, with the UK having been the first country to recognise its independence in 2008, and UK forces have been undertaking a key role in peacekeeping and bolstering security in the region for more than two decades.

    Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, said:

    It was a pleasure to meet with the Kosovan President and Prime Minister today and to announce the UK’s further commitment to NATO’s Kosovo Force.

    The extension of our commitment to KFOR underlines our unwavering commitment to supporting security in the Western Balkans region

    The UK has been a key contributor to the UN-mandated NATO force since it first entered Kosovo in 1999 as a peacekeeping force to bring peace and stability following the conflict of the 1990s.

    UK forces have worked to enhance KFOR’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capability, significantly increasing the mission commanders’ situational awareness – ensuring the operation can provide a safe and secure environment for the entire population.

    KFOR acts as one of the main security providers in Kosovo, with troops contributed by some 30 nations including Italy, Turkey, Poland and the US, as well as the UK. The UK’s contribution includes a battalion-sized high readiness Strategic Reserved Force based in the UK, ready to deploy at short notice.

    The Minister also visited Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on Monday, where he met the Minister of Defence, Zukan Helez; the Chief of Armed Forces General Senad Masovic; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Josip Brkic; as well as the Commanders of EUFOR and NATO HQ Sarajevo.

    Discussions focussed on BiH’s progress towards Euro-Atlantic alignment and on the United Kingdom’s enduring support for the country’s security and sovereignty, including through joint training, the provision of equipment and the exchange of expertise.

    The Minister gave the keynote speech at the Institute for Geopolitics, Economy and Security conference in Sarajevo focusing on the UK’s partnership with BiH on defence and security matters.