New pistols for UK Armed Forces

The Armed Forces are to be supplied with more than 25,000 new Glock sidearms to replace the ageing Browning pistols currently in service.

The Glock 17 Gen4 pistol is not only much lighter than the Browning L9A1, it is also more accurate and its magazines can carry more bullets. It has an increased magazine capacity of 17 rounds, compared to 13 rounds for the Browning.

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Personnel across all 3 Services will begin to receive the new 9-millimetre (mm) calibre Glock 17s in the coming weeks and troops deployed to Afghanistan will be among the first to use the new weapon. The contract with Viking Arms Ltd of Harrogate, Yorkshire, also includes more than 25,000 holsters.

A Glock 17 pistol (left) and the Browning the new pistols will replace [Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2013]

Warrant Officer Class 1 Mark Anderson, Royal Marines, who trialled the new weapon before the contract was awarded, said:

Pistols are vital in close combat and are a key part of a soldier’s armoury. Reliable, light and easy to carry, the Glock inspires confidence and performs exceptionally well.

The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne, said:

We are determined to provide our troops with the best possible personal kit available and these new Glock 17s will give them greater firepower and accuracy on operations.

Royal Marines firearms instructor Sergeant Steve Lord demonstrates the new Glock pistol on the range at Woolwich Barracks in London [Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2013]

Sidearms are a valuable weapon for servicemen and women on the battlefield, and the new Glock, manufactured in Austria, will complement the wide range of weapons already available to our forces, which includes:

• SA80A2 assault rifles, which fire 5.56mm rounds
• light machine guns, which fire 5.56mm rounds
• Sharpshooter rifles, which fire 7.62mm rounds
• general purpose machine guns, which fire 7.62mm rounds
• combat shotguns, which fire 12-gauge cartridges; and
• sniper systems, which fire 8.59mm rounds.

The Glock pistols will replace the Browning which after being used by the Armed Forces for more than 40 years has become increasingly expensive to maintain. The contract for a replacement pistol was put out to tender 2 years ago and is not in response to any specific or increased threat.

Britain reins in defence equipment costs and project delays

Britain's Defence Ministry has begun to improve the way it handles major procurement areas, but must still do more to keep costs and delays under control, parliament's spending watchdog said on Thursday.

MPs and state agencies have frequently criticised the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in recent years for letting costs and timelines on multi-million dollar programmes run out of control.
That criticism has grown more acute as Britain struggles to rein in a big budget deficit through state spending cuts that have squeezed voter incomes.
"In respect of its largest defence projects, there are early signs that the Ministry of Defence has begun to make realistic trade-offs between cost, time, technical requirements and the amount of equipment to be purchased," the National Audit Office said in a statement on its latest report into MoD projects.
The report covers the ministry's 16 largest projects, including A400M transport aircraft built by Airbus, Astute submarines and aircraft carriers built by BAE Systems, and the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme.
The audit office said in the 2011/2012 budget year under a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition there had been a total slippage of 139 months in forecast delivery times, and a cost increase of 468 million pounds.
That meant that, since the projects were approved, costs had increased by about 6.6 billion pounds, or 12 percent. Delays across the 16 projects totalled 468 months, the office said.

The MoD said the cost increase for the last year represented 0.8 percent of the 16 projects' total value of 63 billion pounds, less than the rate of inflation for the year.
It also compared the 468 million pound rise to what it said was an increase of 3.3 billion pounds over the last year of the previous, Labour government in 2009/10.
"There will always be factors over which the (MoD) has limited control, but it must do more to learn from previous projects .... the Department has more to do to address its long-standing issues on project performance," said Amyas Morse, the head of the National Audit Office (NAO).
The office conceded that fuel price inflation of 336 million pounds over the past year in the strategic tanker programme - a project to lease refuelling aircraft - was not the fault of the MoD, and said cost overruns and delays were to be expected in technically challenging projects such as the aircraft carriers.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the government had "taken the tough decisions necessary to get the equipment plan under control".
"Fuel inflation and other factors outside of the department's control are responsible for three-quarters of the cost increase over the past year," he said.
The EADS-led AirTanker consortium behind the tanker aircraft said rising fuel prices were not an intrinsic part of the project and should not have a bearing on assessments of programme delivery

British Pioneers Launch Private Navy to Combat Piracy in Indian Ocean

A private navy founded by businessmen, former marines, retired captains and soldiers will protect its first group of oil tankers and bulk carriers from pirates in the Indian Ocean in late March or April, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.

Typhon, a venture formed by a group of U.K. businessmen led by Glencore International’s Chairman Simon Murray, will recruit 240 former marines and sailors for its navy. This is the first undertaking of its kind in nearly 200 years in the United Kingdom.

These pioneers are frustrated at the inability of various governmental agencies and navies to effectively secure the shipping lanes in a substantially small area of ocean, mainly because they lack the budget to do so.

This private navy will include a mother ship, high-speed armored patrol boats, and armed soldiers.  Their aim is to deter pirates rather than engage in gunfights.

RT reports that the vessel will be UK-flagged, which would give them the legal right to carry their weapons into harbor rather than keep them on platforms in international waters. The navy’s funding will come from shipping firms - in much the same way as the cargo ships sailing under Russian, Chinese and Indian flags hire private convoys.

Although there is a large international presence in the pirate-infested areas, piracy still remains a major issue for mariners and shipping firms.

Stunning images show off size of giant warships

THEY are the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy – and these newly-released graphics show their sheer scale better than ever.

The Aircraft Carrier Alliance – a consortium of defence companies behind the construction of Portsmouth’s newest carriers – has released a series of powerful posters showing off the size of the warships.
The computer-generated images show the warships dwarfing some of the country’s most recognisable landmarks.
And one of the most striking posters is of the under-construction HMS Queen Elizabeth berthed alongside in Portsmouth.
Ian Booth, the programme director of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, said: ‘These posters depict the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers in front of the Houses of Parliament and in Portsmouth.
‘They’re stunning images and show that Portsmouth can expect two really spectacular ships to be resident at the city’s naval base once construction is complete.’
A computer-generated image released last year showed how the first of the two carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth, would look alongside at Portsmouth Naval Base.
Now the image has been used in the series of posters which put the size of the ships into context.
The images reveal the length of the ship is the equivalent of 28 London buses and is almost three times the size of Buckingham Palace.

The carriers are 280m in length, 65,000 tonnes and capable of embarking 40 aircraft – twice the capacity of HMS Illustrious.
They are being constructed at shipyards around the country and taken for assembly at Rosyth in Scotland.
As reported in The News, work is ongoing in Portsmouth to complete the forward island of the ship which will house the bridge.
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance is formed of BAE Systems, Babcock, Thales and the Ministry of Defence.
Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock said he couldn’t wait to see the work being completed.
‘This is superb and it is great news. It’s going to benefit the city and the country on many different levels.
‘I can’t wait to see the work being completed and then seeing these ships in Portsmouth.
‘The people of Portsmouth should be welcoming this.
‘These ships are going to create more jobs here.’

Britain orders GPS anti-jam system

Raytheon UK reports it has been contracted by Britain's Ministry of Defense for a new GPS Anti-Jam Antenna System for use by land vehicles.

The award was issued under an Urgent Operational Requirement. It is the first for the company's GPS Anti-Jam Land product family.

Delivery of the systems to the Defense Ministry will be completed within six months, Raytheon said.

"Raytheon UK has a track record of on-time delivery for GPS AJ systems, having delivered over 7,000 units for air and naval capabilities in the U.K. and U.S.," said Bob Delorge, chief executive, Raytheon UK.

"Many of the military platforms used in operations are protected by the proven Raytheon GPS anti-jam technology and the first order for our Land GPS AJ product family marks a significant success."

British industry in line for £1bn boost from Kuwait

Britain's security industry is in store for a potential £1bn boost as a result of a government-to-government agreement between the UK and Kuwait.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was working with the Kuwaiti government to enhance Kuwait’s homeland security.

Under the agreement, the British Government would manage the project and award contracts to British companies on Kuwait’s behalf.

It is understood the partnership would be worth around £100m to £150m every year for the next seven years to the UK.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said that a letter of “mutual intent” had been signed by Britain and Kuwait on Thursday, allowing negotiations on the government-to-government deal to go ahead.

“Securing the agreement would represent a significant opportunity for UK industry. In addition to the value of the Kuwait Security Programme, there will be considerable associated investment, and the prospect for further commercial growth,” the spokesman said.

The security programme would be run by a branch of the Foreign Office called FCO Services, and would address a range of both physical and virtual threats to Kuwait.

It is thought that the deal would include the provision of state-of-the-art surveillance systems, along the lines of those used during the Olympics.

The agreement was struck during a state visit to Britain by the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

It comes at a time when activists in Kuwait are campaigning for the prime minister to be elected, rather than appointed by the Emir.

Britain will lose nuclear capability for 20 years if Scotland votes for independence

Britain would lose its nuclear deterrent for two decades if Scotland votes for independence because it would no longer have the capability to house Trident submarines.

Scottish independence will force the remainder of the UK to abandon nuclear weapons for at least two decades, according to report by MPs published today.

The Commons Scottish Affairs select committee said it would be possible to move Trident submarines and their missiles from their base on the Clyde within two weeks of separation.

However, the construction of replacement facilities south of the Border could take up to 20 years, they said, effectively forcing the UK Government into “unilateral nuclear disarmament”.

The Continuous At Sea Deterrent, whereby at least one of the submarines is patrolling the UK’s shores around the clock, would stop as a result.

The MPs said it was extremely unlikely a separate Scotland would allow Trident to remain permanently, while basing the submarines abroad would be politically fraught.

A possible solution would be a gentleman’s agreement that would allow the UK to continue basing the submarines inScotland while they found a suitable alternative elsewhere and built the necessary facilities.

But, although there are several potential sites in England and Wales, the committee said all have drawbacks that renderthem unsuitable or expensive to convert for the nuclear deterrent.

Devonport in Plymouth has too large a population in the surrounding area to safely store nuclear warheads, MPs said, while the approach to the Barrow naval base in Cumbria is too shallow for the submarines to regularly dock.

Defence ministers told their inquiry they have made no preparations if Scots vote for separation in autumn 2014 and are pressing ahead with plans to move the Royal Navy’s entire submarine fleet north of the Border by 2017.

But the committee urged both the UK and Scottish governments to publish contingency plans for removing Trident before the referendum so voters understand the consequences.

The naval base at Faslane that houses the submarines is on course to employ 7,500 people by 2022, making it Scotland’s largest worksite, while the missiles and warheads are stored at nearby Coulport.

Replacing them south of the Border is expected to cost well in excess of £3.5 billion, a cost the MPs said would be divided between taxpayers in Scotland and the remainder of the UK as part of the separation deal.

Ian Davidson, the committee’s chairman and the Labour MP for Glasgow South West, said: “The full details of how and when Trident would be removed from Scotland and the full consequences of that plan must be worked out before any referendum is held.”

UK intelligence officers knew of CIA's rendition plans within days of 9/11

Meeting at British embassy in US raises questions about repeated denials by MI5 and MI6 of connivance in torture

 Jack Straw, who told MPs in 2005 there was 'simply no truth in the claims that the United Kingdom has been involved in rendition

Within days of the 9/11 attacks on the US, the CIA told British intelligence officers of its plans to abduct al-Qaida suspects and fly them to secret prisons where they would be systematically abused.
The meeting, at the British embassy in Washington, is disclosed in a forthcoming book by the Guardian journalist Ian Cobain. It raises serious questions about repeated claims by senior MI5 and MI6 officers that they were slow to appreciate the US response to the attacks, and never connived in torture.
The meeting signalled to British officials that the US was preparing to embark on a global kidnapping programme which became known as extraordinary rendition. Cobain reveals that at the end of a three-hour presentation by Cofer Black, President George Bush's top counter-terrorist adviser, Mark Allen – his opposite number in MI6 – commented that it all sounded "rather bloodcurdling".

A few weeks later, in early October 2001, at a secret meeting at Nato headquarters in Brussels, US officials drew up a list of "necessary measures to increase security", Cobain discloses. They included flights to and from secret prisons in Asia, Africa, and throughout Europe. "Quietly, Britain pledged logistics support for the rendition programme, which resulted in the CIA's Gulfstream V and other jets becoming frequent visitors to British airports en route to the agency's secret prisons," writes Cobain.
Over the next four years CIA rendition flights used British airports at least 210 times. The book reveals that Washington asked the UK for permission to build a large prison on Diego Garcia, the British territory in the Indian Ocean where the US has a large bomber base. The project was dropped, for logistical rather than legal reasons.
However, Diego Garcia was used as a stopover for CIA flights taking detainees to secret prisons around the world. And in secret memos, Labour ministers said in early 2002 that their "preferred option" was to render British nationals to Guantánamo Bay, Cobain records. MI5 and MI6 officers carried out around 100 interrogations at the US prison on Cuba between 2002 and 2004.
Yet for years ministers emphatically denied any British involvement in America's rendition programme. As late as December 2005, Jack Straw, then foreign secretary, was telling MPs there was "simply no truth in the claims that the United Kingdom has been involved in rendition". Just a year earlier, we now know, MI6 – under Straw's watch and with the blessing of ministers, officials say – helped to render two leading Libyan dissidents to Muammar Gaddafi's secret police.
Despite the post-9/11 Washington embassy and Nato meetings, and other evidence of their early involvement in rendition, MI5 and MI6 witnesses told the parliamentary intelligence and security committee (ISC) that it was some time before they knew what the US was up to. As late as July 2007, the misinformed ISC stated in a report on rendition that MI5 and MI6 "were … slow to detect the emerging pattern of renditions to detention".
Cobain's book, Cruel Britannia, says the British military operated a "torture centre" throughout the 1940s "in complete secrecy, in a row of Victorian villas in one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in London". They also ran an "interrogation centre" near Hanover in Germany. Evidence from newly released records shows that British involvement in abuse was common earlier – in the colonies, later in Northern Ireland, and much more recently in Iraq.
The book reveals that Allen (who was later to develop a cosy relationship with Gaddafi's intelligence chiefs) expressed concern after the post-9/11 meeting in the UK embassy in Washington about what would happen once the Americans had "hammered the mercury in Afghanistan". Al-Qaida would simply scatter elsewhere, destabilising entire regions, Allen suggested. A CIA officer who was present at the embassy meeting remarked later that while the British appeared laid back, "it was clear they were worried, and not without reason".