Today's defence related news includes Sir Michael Fallon's reaction to the US Syrian missile strikes and the Defence's Secretary's visit to Wales yesterday.
US Syrian air strikes
The Defence Secretary appeared on Good Morning Britain, BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 4 Today programme and others, highlighting that Britain has been in close discussions with the US regarding the airstrikes, the importance of the coalition and saying that the US’s response was ‘appropriate and limited’.
A Government spokesperson said:
The UK Government fully supports the US action, which we believe was an appropriate response to the barbaric chemical weapons attack launched by the Syrian regime, and is intended to deter further attacks.
Defence Secretary boosts Welsh jobs
The Times, BBC News and others report on the Defence secretary's visit to Wales yesterday, in which he announced a £330 million contract with General Dynamics to design the next-generation of battlefield communications. While in Wales, the Defence Secretary handed over the former MOD Super Hangar to Aston Martin at a special ceremony at St Athan. The redevelopment of the site into a state of the art manufacturing facility for the British luxury carmaker will directly create 750 new jobs in South Wales, and support thousands more as production starts in 2019.
Speaking at General Dynamics UK’s Oakdale site in South Wales, 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.
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