Today’s defence-related news includes news of troops being made available in the event of a no-deal Brexit and the publishing of the Modernising Defence Programme.
Troops for no-deal Brexit
The Telegraph, Financial Times, The Times, The Sun, Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Guardian, The Express and The Independent all reference the Defence Secretary’s comments that 3,500 troops will be "held at readiness" to help with a no-deal Brexit. The announcement also continues to be referenced on broadcast channels, including BBC R4 Today. All reports note that no specific requests have been made thus far.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
We've as yet not had any formal requests from any government departments. But what we are doing is putting contingency plans in place, and what we will do is have 3,500 service personnel held at readiness, including regulars and reserves, in order to support any government department on any contingencies they may need.
Modernising Defence Programme
Following the Defence Secretary’s unveiling of the Modernising Defence Programme yesterday, BBC News online focuses on his comments that greater use will be made of artificial intelligence and other new technologies to combat emerging threats, and that a £160m fund will be set up to support new military capabilities to tackle space and cyber threats. The Telegraph focuses on the threat from Russia, referencing that the Defence Secretary has pledged to ringfence £160m to develop innovative capabilities in new war-fighting domains such as cyber.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
I will do everything within my power to make sure that the UK remains a Tier-One military power in the decade ahead, and that we continue to deliver the strong defence and security that has been the hallmark of the government.
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