Today’s defence news includes more on the deployment of RAF aircraft and personnel for an international exercise programme across the Asia-Pacific region.
RAF RED ARROWS
The Daily Record and BBC report that the RAF’s Red Arrows display team are to fly at the Zhuhai air show in China as part of a 60-day tour of Asia to promote the “Best of British”.
The complex deployment of Typhoon fighter aircraft and the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, will include a far-reaching series of public displays and training events with international Defence partners.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, said:
This exercise is tremendously important and it demonstrates that even though the Royal Air Force is committed to operations in the Middle East and elsewhere, we still have the capability to deploy effectively to the other side of the world, with both Typhoons, supporting Voyagers and air transport, and the Red Arrows as well.
This reinforces the message that the UK is a globally-engaged player with global power, reinforcing our relationship with partners, and also promoting UK prosperity.
Read more about Exercise Eastern Venture here.
IRAQ ABUSE CLAIMS
The Telegraph , The Sun , The Daily Mail report that Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to crack down on “no win, no fee” lawyers who seek to “impugn the name of our Armed Forces”. The Prime Minister reportedly said she will shortly announce measures to stop law firms making “vexatious” legal claims against British troops accused of wrongdoing in foreign conflicts.
FUSILIER DEAN GRIFFITHS
The Sun reports on the crown censure issued to the MOD by the Health and Safety Executive yesterday over the death of 21-year-old Fusilier Dean Griffiths.
Lieutenant General Sir James Everard, Commander Field Army, said:
The Army received a Crown Censure from the Health & Safety Executive relating to Fusilier Dean Griffiths who was fatally wounded as a result of a live firing incident during a training exercise at Lydd Ranges on the 14th September 2011. The Army sincerely regrets and has apologised to Fusilier Griffiths’s family for what happened; we lost one of our own that fateful day. Our deepest condolences remain with his family, friends, and soldier comrades.
Following this tragedy, measures and enhanced levels of supervision have now been implemented to reduce the risk of incidents such as this being repeated.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Coordinated by US Strategic Command, the exercise sees the seven nations working in a combined Space Operations centre alongside commercial colleagues to improve space awareness and coordination. Crown Copyright.
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