Defence news today includes the Defence Secretary's message on the UK's military response to a cyber attack, and further coverage that new Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has set sail.
Cyber
Media today report on Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon’s comments at yesterday's Chatham House Cyber 2017 conference. The Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, The Sun, Telegraph, BBC News and The Times, focus on the nature of a UK military response to a cyber attack, leading with Sir Michael’s statement that ‘an online attack could invite a response from any domain – air, land, sea or cyber space’.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:
We’re using our rising budget to invest our £178bn in full spectrum capability, from carriers to Ajax armoured vehicles, fifth generation F35 to the latest UAVs, signaling to potential cyber strikers that the price of an online attack could invite a response from any domain: air, land, sea or cyber space.
Read the full speech here.
HMS Queen Elizabeth
Media coverage continues this week that HMS Queen Elizabeth has set sail ahead of upcoming sea trials.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:
This is a historic moment for the UK as our new aircraft carrier takes to sea for the very first time. This floating fortress is by far the most powerful ship ever built in Britain that will enable us to tackle multiple and changing threats across the globe.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is an enduring example of British imagination, ingenuity, invention that will help keep us safe for decades to come. She is built by the best, crewed by the best and will deliver for Britain.
For the next fifty years she will deploy around the world, demonstrating British power and our commitment to confronting the emerging challenges from a dangerous world. The whole country can be proud of this national achievement.
Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff said:
This is a hugely significant moment for the Royal Navy, for all our Armed Forces and for our island nation. Once in service HMS Queen Elizabeth will be the largest aircraft carrier in the world outside the United States, and the first designed from the outset to operate a fifth generation aircraft.
Already this ship represents the best of the UK's industrial and engineering expertise, and once in service she will symbolise our military power and authority in the world for decades to come. There is still much work to do between now and then, but be in no doubt: a new era of British maritime power is about to begin.
Read more about HMS Queen Elizabeth here.
Separately, some media speculate today on the security around computer software on the aircraft carrier. The MOD's position is below.
An MOD Spokesperson said:
While we don’t comment on the specific systems used by our ships and submarines, we have absolute confidence in the security we have in place to keep the Royal Navy’s largest and most powerful ship safe and secure. We take cyber security extremely seriously and the UK has doubled its cyber investment to £1.9 billion.
Syria
There is widespread reporting of the Defence Secretary's comment yesterday on UK support for any future US military action in Syria in retaliation to a chemical attack. Reporting is carried in The Times, The Sun, The Independent, Daily Express, Daily Mirror and The Guardian.
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