Today’s defence news includes coverage of apprentices, new investment in enhanced communications kit for the armed forces and 1 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers training on Salisbury Plain.
Communications Equipment
The Western Mail reports that the Defence Secretary will announce the creation of 50 skilled jobs in South Wales at General Dynamics UK, as a result of a £175m investment by the Ministry of Defence in enhanced communications kit for the armed forces. The article states that the new contract will also secure a further 20 jobs at the facility in Oakdale.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
This is more evidence of what this Government’s decision to grow our Defence budget can do for the UK. It will create highly skilled jobs in Wales and help our Armed Forces to keep Britain safe for years to come.
Daesh
Sky News and The Times report that the disclosure of Daesh documents has exposed details of the terrorist network’s global recruitment programme. They state that security services were last night examining files alleged to contain names, addresses, and family contacts of 22,000 jihadist fighters, including at least a dozen British recruits. It is reported that the leak was hailed as a severe setback for Daesh, providing vital intelligence on the war effort in Syria and Iraq. A number of security and intelligence specialists are interviewed for the reports.
The Times, Guardian and Independent report that Daesh has suffered a double blow with the capture of its chemical weapons chief and the reported death of a notorious Chechen commander. The papers state that Sleiman Daoud al-Afari, who once worked for Saddam Hussein’s military industrialisation authority, where he specialised in chemical and biological weapons, was caught in a raid by United States special forces in Iraq.
Land Rover Gifting
The Guardian writes that the MOD is gifting 40 Land Rovers to Bulgaria. The article questions the human rights record of Bulgaria.
A HMG spokesperson said:
The Government’s focus is on securing a comprehensive solution to the refugee crisis, tackling the consequences as well as the root causes. This includes providing humanitarian assistance and ensuring the EU has a strong external border. The gifting of the Land Rovers will help Bulgaria keep its borders safe. We expect all Member States to meet their obligations and comply with international standards.
Apprentices
In a range of articles looking ahead to next week’s National Apprentice Week, the opportunities in the Armed Forces are referenced. The Daily Mirror says that the Armed Forces are the biggest recruiters of apprentices with the Royal Navy taking 2,500 this year, the RAF 1,500 and the Army 10,000. The Times references the Army’s programme and The Sun reports that the Army is the UK’s largest apprenticeships provider offering 10,000 a year in 45 different roles. It says applicants are offered full pay rather than an apprentice wage.
F35
The Daily Star and Daily Mail Online report that British military pilots are being put through a training regime in the US to reform the famous Dambusters squadron. Articles note that personnel form the Royal Navy and RAF are embedded with the US Marine Corps in South Carolina learning to fly the £100m F35 stealth fighter jets.
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