Today's Defence news includes reporting from the Farnborough air show and further reaction to the ban on women in ground close combat roles being lifted.
FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW
There are various reports from the opening of the Farnborough airshow this morning. It is reported that Boeing is to double the number of people it employs in the UK and will build a new £100m facility. Prime Minister David Cameron has also announced that the UK had signed a contract to buy nine new Boeing Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the deal to purchase nine P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft for the RAF. The new aircraft, which will be based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, will play a vital role in protecting the UK’s nuclear deterrent and the UK’s two new aircraft carriers.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
Our new Maritime Patrol Aircraft will provide significant protection of the UK’s nuclear deterrent and our £6 billion aircraft carriers.
They are part of our plan for stronger and better defence, backed by a budget that will rise each year of this decade. That means more ships, more aircraft, more troops available at readiness, better equipment for special forces, more being spent on cyber – to deal with the increased threats to our country.
IRAQ INQUIRY
The Telegraph suggests that Downing Street prevented military chiefs from responding to the Chilcot report’s findings. In fact, the head of the Army has given public interviews in which he commended the report and said how important it was that lessons were learnt.
A Government spokesperson said:
It is standard practice for responses to reports of this nature to be co-ordinated across Government. That is what happened in this case - with departments including the Ministry of Defence leading on issues relevant to them and Cabinet Office pulling them all together.
There will be a further two days of debate in parliament this week following the report’s publication.
WOMEN IN GROUND CLOSE COMBAT
There was widespread coverage in the papers this weekend after the ban on women serving in ground close combat roles was lifted by the Prime Minister.
General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the General Staff, said:
I am delighted that we are now able to extend the opportunities for women to serve in the Army.
Women already operate on the frontline in a variety of roles and have done so with distinction in recent conflicts.
By allowing women to serve in all roles, we will truly help to maximise the talent available to the Army and make the Armed Forces a modern employer.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
I have always wanted roles in our armed forces to be determined by ability, not gender.
Women have already given exemplary service in recent conflicts, working in a variety of highly specialised and vital roles. By opening all combat roles to women, we will continue to build on these successes and improve the operational capability of our military.
Read more about the ban on women in ground close combat roles being lifted here.
TRIDENT
It is widely reported that the Prime Minister has announced that MPs will vote on whether to renew Trident next week.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
Our nuclear deterrent provides the ultimate guarantee of our security and our way of life.
This vote is about continuing to protect the UK from extreme threats in the 2030s, 2040s, and 2050s. I hope that all MPs elected on manifestos that supported the deterrent will vote to do so. This is no time to gamble with our security.
The Defence Secretary has welcomed the announcement that the Government will hold a full Parliamentary debate on the principle of Continuous at Sea Deterrence on Monday 18th July 2016. Read more here.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
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