Today’s defence reporting includes further details on the closure of IHAT, a new £330 million contract in Wales, an interview with the Defence Secretary in the Wall Street Journal and her Majesty The Queen providing a Guidon to the Royal Lancers.
IHAT
The Sun and The Daily Telegraph both report that the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) will be closed by the 30th June. The papers say that the remaining cases under investigation - thought to number around 20 - will be dealt with by officers from the Royal Navy Police and the RAF Police and are expected to be concluded by the end of next year.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:
We took the unprecedented step of submitting evidence which saw Phil Shiner struck off and allowed IHAT to dispose of many false allegations he made. Now I can confirm that IHAT will close in June and the Service Police should complete investigations into the small number of remaining cases a year earlier than planned. We are taking steps to make sure the reputation of our Armed Forces cannot be attacked in this dishonest way again.
Wales contact announcement
BBC Wales report that that a new defence contract has been awarded to General Dynamics worth £330m and will create 125 jobs in Wales. The company is set to create a next-generation communications system which will improve visual information and allow it to be shared more widely by the military.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:
This £330 million contact for the next generation of battlefield communications, supporting 250 high skilled jobs, underlines the importance of Wales to our Armed Forces. Backed by a rising defence budget, last year MOD spent £870 million with Welsh businesses helping to build a stronger economy and keep Britain safe. As well as investing in new equipment we are also investing in a Better Defence Estate for our Armed Forces. Aston’ Martin’s decision to build a new facility on land we no longer need will bring more high skilled jobs to Wales.
P-8 announcement
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the Defence Secretary confirmed that Britain has signed for the first two of nine Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, which will arrive by 2020. In the wide ranging piece, the Defence spoke about the 100th anniversary of the US entering First World War and about the deepening military cooperation between the US and the UK, NATO.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:
The centenary of the United States joining the First World War is of huge significance. Their arrival in 1917 helped turn the tide of that conflict, going on to cement 100 years of a special relationship of shared values and interests between the U.S. and the UK. This alliance has since strengthened, flourished and adapted to fight modern day challenges and to become one of the greatest forces for progress the world has ever known.
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