Of note in Defence news today is continued coverage of the situation around Britain's steel industry, and reporting that HMS Somerset escorted a Russian naval ship through the English Channel.
Steel
Issues around Britain's steel industry continue to dominate the news agenda, and is covered on most newspaper front pages this morning. The Mirror continues its Save Our Steel campaign and references the MOD buying Swedish steel for armoured vehicles and potentially for new frigates. The Government's position can be seen in full below.
A Government spokesperson said:
No-one should be in any doubt that – across all of Government’s major procurements – we are working hard to make sure that where we can, we source British steel. UK suppliers have provided significant quantities of steel for major defence equipment procurement programmes and new government guidelines will help UK steel suppliers to compete effectively with international suppliers for major projects, including those in defence.
As a result of new EU public procurement rules which we negotiated and were the first country to implement, social and economic factors can be taken into account when Government procures steel.
In addition, procurers and their main contractors are required to publish upcoming opportunities for contracts so that the UK steel industry can bid more effectively.
HMS Somerset
A picture story is carried in The Times of HMS Somerset escorting a Russian naval task group as it travelled through the English Channel and along the east coast of the UK. A short piece is also reported in the Daily Star.
Commander Michael Wood, Commanding Officer of HMS Somerset, said:
This transit was continually monitored through a coordinated response between the Royal Navy and our NATO partners. The transit of Russian ships from the Mediterranean to their northern ports is not unusual, but the Royal Navy is ready at all times to protect UK territorial waters.
Women in engineering
A supplement in The Telegraph featuring ‘The Top 50 Women in Engineering’ features BAE Systems working with the RAF and Royal Navy to visit a record 420 schools this year in a programme designed to specifically appeal to girls. In the supplement, BAE said women are both fighter pilots and are helping to make them. Later in the supplement, in a case study featuring MOD aeronautical engineer Delphine Ryan, she says her career is ‘highly satisfying’ and that she continues to develop as an engineer.
Libya
The Guardian reports that the head of Libya’s new UN-backed government reached Tripoli yesterday to proclaim a new order - a move which could pave the way for international troops and air support. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond is quoted as saying Britain was “ready to stand to respond positively to requests for support and assistance". The MOD's position on Libya can be seen below.
An MOD spokesperson said:
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.
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