This morning’s papers cover a range of Defence-related topics, including a speech due to be made by the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon today.
Airseeker Rivet Joint
The Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, The Sun and Sky online all look ahead to the Defence Secretary’s speech at the RUSI Air Power conference today, where he is expected to announce that we will be deploying an additional Airseeker Rivet Joint in the fight against ISIL. The Daily Telegraph says the RAF now has more spy aircraft tracking ISIL militants than were deployed against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The articles compare the air campaign against ISIL to the Second World War. The Defence Secretary is expected to say in his speech at midday that the UK is fighting “a new Battle of Britain”. All articles consider the capability of the Airseeker Rivet Joint, which can intercept phone calls and text messages for analysis, and the intelligence used to inform airstrikes. It is noted that the UK is providing around 30% of the aerial intelligence gathering in the international coalition fighting ISIL.
Reserves
The Star runs an extended feature promoting the good work of the reserves across the Army, Navy and RAF. After meeting a group of Army reserves, the reporter writes that whether it is the terror threat at home or a foreign trouble spot boiling over, the dedicated men and women of the reserves are ready to rise to the challenge alongside their full time counterparts. He notes that reserves come from all backgrounds including lawyers, builders and caretakers but are all primed to do exactly the same job as full time soldiers should they be called forward. Among the reservists interviewed are Captain Oli Fallon, of the Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers, who says that the reserves bring flexibility, a range of skills and outlooks the regulars don’t normally have. A number of further case studies are used before the article closes with how readers can find out more about joining the Army reserves.
Service inquiry
The Independent and The Star report on the conclusion of the Service Inquiry into a Lynx helicopter crash in Afghanistan in April 2014. The articles note that the five servicemen that died were the last to lose their lives in Afghanistan before the withdrawal of troops. The inquiry concluded that the crash was caused by human factors. Both articles speculated that this was because the pilot was trying to give his passengers a weightless experience. A written ministerial statement on the Service Inquiry was laid in Parliament on Tuesday.
An MOD spokesperson said:
Our deepest sympathies remain with the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident. As a result of this Service Inquiry, which found that the crash was a result of human factors rather than due to enemy action or a technical fault, we have taken steps to ensure that the risk of reoccurrence is minimised as far as possible.
RAF Akrotiri
The Times, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and The Sun report that raids on ISIL were halted yesterday after two Brimstone missiles became detached from a Tornado GR4 after a heavy landing in Cyprus. The articles note that the missiles did not detonate and nobody was hurt. It is noted that a controlled explosion is expected and a thorough sweep of the runway will be needed to ensure there is no debris before operations can continue. The Times brings in comments from General Sir Nicholas Houghton, Chief of the Defence Staff, who stated at the RUSI Air Power conference yesterday that Britain’s fast jets are operating at the “very limits” of availability and capacity. The article ties in the expected announcement from the Defence Secretary today that an additional Airseeker Rivet Joint will be deployed in the fight against ISIL.
An RAF spokesperson said the Brimstone incident caused no risk to the public or service personnel and as the UK is part of a multi-national coalition, whilst the unavailability of UK assets from RAF Akrotiri was unfortunate, it did not affect the targeting of ISIL. There was a controlled detonation in the early hours of this morning and staff then removed all the debris. The runway was declared operational at 0800hrs local time.
Find the Chief of the Defence Staff’s speech here.
Brecon Beacons inquest
The Daily Mirror and The Times report that Armed Forces Minister Penny Mordaunt has apologised to the families of three soldiers who died on an SAS selection exercise in the Brecon Beacons. The Times reports that officers in charge of the exercise will be investigated by the Royal Military Police following a decision not to bring criminal charges.
Find the Minister’s full statement here.
Compensation payout
The Daily Telegraph reports that a soldier suffering from heatstroke went into shock after cold water was thrown over him. Barney Tipping claims that the ordeal on exercise in Kenya has caused a debilitating condition that forced him to leave the Army and he has now received £275,000 in compensation from the MOD.
An MOD spokesperson said:
We regret that Mr Tipping feels that the Department has been unsympathetic in dealing with his claim and this was certainly not our intention. We have a responsibility to satisfy ourselves that claims for injury or illness are justified before large sums of taxpayers’ money are paid out. We are pleased that the case has now been settled on terms satisfactory to Mr Tipping and wish him well for the future.
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