Today’s defence news review covers issues including Trident, Syria, Libya, the sentencing of two soldiers in Wales for assault and Army recruitment.
TRIDENT
The Times, Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph report that Trident missiles are being upgraded to protect them from cyber threats. The articles state that the update will protect the weapon from rogue nations such as North Korea and terrorist groups such as Daesh. All reports cite a previous article by Bloomberg where John Daniels, a spokesman for the US Navy’s nuclear deterrent programme, said “Now that cyber has become even more important in our national security, there will be even more requirements. In our modern era, cyber security threats are a legitimate concern.”
The articles note that the software updates will be provided by BAE Systems. They also carry a MOD statement, a full version of which is below.
The deterrent remains safe and secure. We take our responsibility to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent extremely seriously and continually assess the security of the whole deterrent programme and its operational effectiveness, including against threats from cyber.
SAS IN SYRIA
The Sun reports the Prime Minister has been accused of barring the SAS from helping to wipe out Daesh leaders in Syria. The article states that military top brass are angry that the UK is secretly leaving it to US special forces, reporting that it has emerged the SAS plays no role in targeting jihadis based in Raqqa. A leader in the newspaper focuses on the same story, stating that there is no easy solution to ending the terror threat to Britain but that this cannot happen without wiping out Daesh in Syria.
While the MOD does not comment on the special forces, you can read more about the Government’s work to counter Daesh, including air strikes in Iraq and Syria, here.
LIBYA
The Daily Telegraph runs a comment piece by Con Coughlin where he writes that sending 1,000 British troops to Libya will not bring stability and that a small European peacekeeping force will just invite an attack by violent Islamists. The article suggests the aim of the peacekeeping force would be to establish a green zone in the centre of Tripoli, allowing government departments to establish authority and rebuild the country.
A MOD statement on the situation Libya is below.
The UK continues to work with international partners on how best to support the new Libyan government. All planning has been focussed on training Libyan Security Forces to provide their own security to the Government and Libyan people. No decisions have been made about the future deployment of any British military forces.
SOLDIER SENTENCING
The Daily Telegraph, Guardian and Times report that two soldiers have been jailed for attacking two teenagers Wales. The articles state that Privates John Ward and Jason Ferguson have been sentenced to eight years and seven years, respectively, for beating up two disabled teenagers on a night out from their Sennybridge camp in the Brecon Beacons.
An Army statement on their sentencing is below.
We can confirm that Private Ferguson and Private Ward of 3 SCOTS were found guilty of GBH and sentenced on 24 March 2016.
All those who are found to fall short of the Army’s high standards or who are found to have committed an offence under the Armed Forces Act are dealt with administratively, up to and including dismissal, or through the disciplinary process, as applicable.
FALKLANDS
Most newspapers cover a UN report which ruled that the Falklands lie in Argentinian waters, but reflect that Britain has dismissed the findings. A Downing Street spokeswoman is quoted: “What’s important is, what do the Falkland Islanders think? They’ve been clear that they want to remain an overseas territory of the UK and we will still support their right to determine their future.” A Foreign and Commonwealth Office statement is also carried in most reports, stating that the UK Government remains in no doubt over the sovereignty of the Falklands nor the right of the islanders to determine their own future.
CYBER WARFARE
The Independent runs an article on cyber warfare stating that the Army is quietly shelving ideals of scrupulous neatness and dress codes in an attempt to attract correctly qualified cyber reservists.
A MOD statement on this issue is below:
Defence seeks to maximise talent and where people bring niche skills and valuable experience but may not meet standard eligibility criteria, it may offer exceptional dispensation for employment. This may be in a number of specialist areas including cyber.
Follow us on Twitter and don’t forget to sign up for email alerts.
