Today’s defence-related news includes further coverage following the airstrike in Yemen.
Yemen
There is continued coverage of the situation in Yemen, including in The Times, The Independent and The Daily Telegraph. Papers report that missiles were fired on Sunday at a US destroyer, the USS Mason, which was stationed off the coast of the country. The Times says that the Pentagon has confirmed both missiles fired hit the water before reaching the ship.
Submarines – BAE Systems
The Daily Telegraph has further reported on the contract to supply steel for the hulls of Britain’s new Trident Submarines.
The MOD sources British steel where possible, but in this instance there was either no source of supply in the UK or no viable UK bid for this part of the build. The Successor programme represents billions of pounds of investment in thousands of British jobs across hundreds of firms from Scotland to the South East, with 85 per cent of the BAE System’s supply chain, for the new submarines are expected to be based in the UK.
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 – such as both of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. A great deal of work has been done to support the steel industry and we are now focused on working with the industry and partners on safeguarding the long-term sustainable future of the steel industry in the UK.
Cadets
Schools Week has incorrectly reported that only five state schools have opened cadet units since a £50 million grant was announced last year to boost the number of units to 500 by 2020, and that about 100 cadet forces need to be set up in state schools each year to meet the Cadet Expansion Programme target.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:
The Government has committed to increase the number of cadet units parading in schools to 500 by 2020 and is on track to meet this target.
We have had a substantial number of applications to establish new units - demonstrating the interest that schools around the country have in the programme.
Following the announcement of £50M funding in the 2015 budget, 50 new units will have been approved by the end of this year. This is in addition to the 350 cadet units that already exist including 100 set up between 2012 and 2015, meaning that we need to open another 100 units to meet the 2020 target.
The JEF(M) Task Group came together for a PHOTEX, with HMS Bulwark, HMS Ocean, RFA Mounts Bay and MV Eddystone all in formation.
HMS Bulwark is currently deployed under Commander Amphibious Task Group who is leading the Royal Navy's inaugural Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) Group deployment.