Secretary Fallon during the visit Photo: MoD
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon visited RAF Lossiemouth recently to view the fighters and crews which defend UK airspace and have intercepted Russian aircraft over the North Sea in recent weeks.
The Defence Secretary made the visit to the Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) ahead of a meeting with Defence Ministers from the Nordic-Baltic region in Oslo tomorrow. There, he is due to discuss the consequences of the crisis in Ukraine against a backdrop of recent incursions by Russian planes and ships into European air and sea space.
The Northern Group provides a key forum for discussion of common threats and security issues of particular interest to the Nordic-Baltic region. Tomorrow’s meeting comes at a time of increased Russian military activity with more than 100 intercepts reported in European airspace so far this year - three times the total in 2013.
Discussions are expected to include a focus on European security challenges and how the Northern Group, which meets twice a year at Defence Minister level, can better co-operate to strengthen this.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “State-of-the-art Typhoon fighter jets and their RAF crews at Lossiemouth work around the clock patrolling the skies above and around the UK and intercepting unidentified aircraft. I was delighted to meet air and ground crew delivering this vital capability and see for myself the first-class kit they operate and the highly professional way in which they do so.
“No less important is the work which goes on at Lossiemouth to prepare the crews for their vital and varied work, especially in the campaign against ISIL.
“The Northern Group provides a key platform to help shape and deliver Europe’s and NATO’s response to the security implications of Russia’s indefensible actions in Ukraine and whose incursions of European air and sea space have increased.
“It is absolutely vital that like-minded countries come together to discuss how we face such issues and other matters of shared interest and I look forward to doing so tomorrow.”
The UK is already playing a central role in NATO’s Immediate Assurance measures, underlined by its summer deployment of RAF Typhoon aircraft to Lithuania for the Baltic Air Policing mission and participation in military exercises across the Baltic States and Eastern Europe.
Although sitting outside of NATO, the Northern Group is due to discuss how it can best help deliver the measures agreed at the NATO Summit Wales earlier this year. These include:
· the Readiness Action Plan, including Immediate Assurance Measures and the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF);
· the Defence Investment Pledge; and
· the Enhanced Opportunities’ forum for the Alliance’s closest Partners, including Sweden and Finland.
Northern Group Ministers are also set to gain a deeper understanding of different national crisis management processes in order to better support the co-ordination needed for an effective response in the event of an international incident.
RAF Tornados Complete Afghanistan Mission
Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s have left Afghanistan and are heading back to the UK after more than five years of operations in the country.
The fast jets, from 31 Squadron based at RAF Marham, Norfolk, flew out of Kandahar airfield early this morning having flown their final missions. Aircrew and ground crew from the squadron have provided vital support to NATO efforts in the country since they took over from RAF Harriers in June 2009.
During its time in Afghanistan, the Tornado GR4 has provided vital information about enemy activity on the ground, using the Litening III and RAPTOR reconnaissance pods to spot potential hazards such as roadside bombs. The jets have also provided close air support deterring enemy forces by flying low and fast over their location or striking important targets with precision when necessary to do so.
Air and ground crew will now make their way via RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, to RAF Marham where they will be welcomed home by friends and family.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “The Tornado remains the fast jet workhorse of the RAF and has performed superbly over many years in Afghanistan, supplying life saving intelligence and precision weapons in support of our mission there. The whole Tornado force should be proud or their work and I pay tribute to their professionalism.”
Air Chief Marshal Andrew Pulford, Chief of the Air Staff offered: “The Royal Air Force - and indeed Royal Navy - fast jet contribution to Afghanistan, firstly through the Joint Harrier Force and subsequently the RAF Tornado force, has shown the UK Armed Forces continued ability to provide decisive and potent air power whenever and wherever it is needed. The Tornado force contribution to this operation over the last 5 years has undoubtedly saved lives and should rightly be celebrated. Nevertheless, our operational focus and that of the Tornado force must now turn to Iraq where, as in Afghanistan, we will continue to support our allies.”
Wing Commander Richard Yates, Officer Commanding 31 Squadron, said: “It has been an honour to be the last Squadron of the Tornado force’s combat mission in Afghanistan supporting the Afghan Government and people. I am hugely proud of my personnel who have worked tirelessly and continued the good work of all those who have been here before, both on the Tornado force and the Harrier force. It is of note that as 31 Squadron enters its centenary year that it is not the first time the Squadron has been in Afghanistan; we were out here in 1919 fighting in the third Afghan War. It’s fascinating to see that nearly 100 years later, we’ve returned to this theatre providing precision close air support to Coalition and Afghan forces. Now our role is complete we look forward to some down time before our next task.”
Leading the last combat sortie was Flight Lieutenant Oli Payne, 29: “ To lead the last sortie was a real privilege. It was a hugely poignant day as it brought to a close about ten years of constant fast jet operations by the RAF in Afghanistan, so it was a big moment for both the crews and the RAF. The Tornado GR4 has been offering intelligence, surveillance and precision close air support for more than five years now and it’s done a remarkable job, remaining as potent a platform today as it has ever been. It’s been a great honour to be here on the very last tour and to offer the Afghan forces support during the transition period.”
MoD Set to Order its Production Batch of Lightning II Combat Aircraft
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon today announced that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has reached agreement in principle on an order for the first production batch of four Lightning II stealth combat aircraft – which will operate from both the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers and RAF land bases.
A formal contract is expected to be placed within weeks for the F-35B aircraft, which form part of the MOD’s investment in Lightning II over the next five years to procure an initial 14 of these multi-role fifth generation aircraft, together with the necessary support arrangements and infrastructure.
Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, said: “Today’s announcement is a major step forward. The Lightning II will equip the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force with a highly advanced multi-role stealth combat aircraft, operating from both our new Queen Elizabeth class carriers and land bases.
Secretary Fallon added: These aircraft will form part of the first UK-based squadron of F-35s, which will take up station at RAF Marham in 2018. This programme is also bringing substantial industrial benefits to the UK, providing thousands of skilled jobs in the UK aerospace industry.”
Bernard Gray, the MOD’s Chief of Defence Materiel, said: “I am delighted that this agreement prepares the way for the first batch of operational combat aircraft. It ensures the MOD remains on target for achieving both operational capability from land bases and the start of flying trials aboard the carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2018.”
Air Commodore Mark Hopkins, Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for Lightning II, said: “Lightning II will be a genuinely transformational aircraft when it enters service with the RAF and the Royal Navy. With highly advanced sensors, systems and weapons, this fifth generation stealth aircraft will offer a quantum leap in terms of capability and, alongside Typhoon, will offer the UK flexible and adept Air Power for the foreseeable future.
“As the first batch order for aircraft to form part of our first operational squadron, this marks a very significant milestone in this programme.”
It is anticipated that the contract will be finalised in the coming weeks, which will allow deliveries of the aircraft, within the contract, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, to commence from mid 2016.
The aircraft provide an important step on the path to rebuilding the UK’s carrier strike capability. They feature short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) and the latest stealth and intelligence surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) technology.
Army Launches Public Information Campaign
The Army is continually seeking to improve the Nation’s understanding of its purpose and utility in order that the opportunities for people to volunteer and serve in the integrated Army of both Regular and Reserve are understood. In support of this requirement the Army is launching a Public Information Campaign. The first phase of this campaign is to be launched on today and is focused towards the Army Reserve. It will be followed by a second phase in January 2015 that is focused on the whole Army. Details of these phases are as follows:
The first stage of the campaign will run in October and November and will feature advertisements in the Times, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, Metro and the Sun. There will also be a digital campaign on sites such as Amazon, MTV and Kindle Fire. The October adverts will tell the stories of five Army Reservists who will tell their own stories about their roles and experiences within an integrated Army. These stories will include where they have served including Afghanistan, Uganda, Cyprus and the United States as well as in the UK
The campaign will continue in January 2015 with TV, digital and press advertisements which will focus on the importance of the Army following the end of combat operations in Afghanistan. This phase will run until March 2015.
General Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of the General Staff, said: “Our reserves are essential to our military capability – accessing skills and expertise all the time, providing greater mass in the short term and acting as a platform for expansion in the medium term. The Army Reserve is also crucially important for securing our position in the nation and linking us to civil society.
“We are an integrated British Army, regular and reserve, each making a contribution to the whole: working alongside one another and complementing one another to collectively create an integrated capability that adds up to more than the sum of the two parts. The Army Reserve makes the Army better all the time - and bigger when needed."