Today’s defence related media coverage includes today’s announcement from the Defence Secretary of new UK military training in Ukraine.
Ukraine
The Daily Telegraph reports the Defence Secretary’s announcement of new British military training for Ukrainian forces and the visit of a Type 45 destroyer to the Black Sea port of Odessa this summer. The paper writes that the Defence Secretary has said that Britain will stand alongside Ukraine. The visit is also reported in a piece in the Daily Mail which reports that Sir Michael has said that “Britain is stepping up on the global stage and standing firm with our Ukrainian friends”.
Sir Michael Fallon said:
The values of freedom and democracy cannot be traded. Britain is stepping up on the global stage and standing firm with our Ukrainian friends. The UK is sending a clear message that we are committed to defending democracy across the world and support Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
You can read more about the Defence Secretary’s visit here.
Counter-Daesh
The Sun reports that FOI figures have revealed that the RAF has killed nearly twice as many Daesh fighters last year as in the previous 12 months, which brings the total killed to 1,864 since Britain joined the US-led coalition in September 2014.
Sir Michael Fallon, Defence Secretary, said:
In the last year, over two million people have been freed from Daesh rule by Iraqi and moderate Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by Coalition air power. Britain is stepping up in the fight against Daesh: the Army has helped trained over 32,000 Iraqi forces and in a controlled and precise manner the RAF are taking out Daesh and working hard to minimise casualties in a very difficult dense urban environment. Working with Allies we will keep momentum, push Daesh out of Mosul, encircle Raqqa and eventually end Daesh’s reign of terror.
Defence Industry
The Financial Times and The Times report that UK defence group Chemring has returned to profit after receiving a boost from a weak pound and restructuring initiatives. The Times notes that Chemring is heavily involved in the F-35 programme.
WW2 bomb
The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mirror, and The Sun report that Westminster Bridge, the Victoria Embankment, and Westminster and Embankment Underground stations were closed last night after a Second World War bomb was dredged up in the Thames. The Daily Mail notes that MOD personnel were told to move away from the Embankment side of the building or evacuate completely.
Image of the day
The Minister came to Merville Barracks in Colchester today (Thu 19 Jan) to understand more about the challenges presented by the unique role and international partnerships maintained by 16 Air Assault Brigade, which is the British Armys airborne rapid reaction force.
Photographer:
Corporal Jonathan Lee van Zyl / MoD Crown Copyright
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