Boosting security and defence ties between the UK and New Zealand was a priority in discussions between Dr. Liam Fox, UK Secretary of State for Defence and his New Zealand counterpart, the Honourable Dr. Wayne Mapp. They met in Auckland last week ahead of a wreath laying ceremony at the Auckland War Memorial.

Speaking at a reception at the National Maritime Museum hosted by Murray McCully, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Dr Fox said:

“I am very pleased to be in New Zealand with the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, to meet the Defence and Foreign Ministers. These meetings are extremely valuable and provide us with an opportunity to discuss defence and security issues of concern to both our nations. Global challenges, such as Afghanistan and counter-terrorism, require a coordinated response with key allies such as New Zealand, the USA and Australia.”

 

As well as joint bilateral talks, the programme included a business event promoting UK-New Zealand trade and investment relations. New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, hosted a dinner in honour of his guests and Dr. Fox paid tribute to the enduring relationship between the two nations:

 

“Britain and New Zealand continue to conduct joint training missions and share their knowledge and skills through regular secondments. We have substantial defence and trade ties and we continue to seek new ways in which we can enhance our robust and longstanding relationship.”

The Defence Secretary will also be visiting Devonport Naval Base in Auckland and meeting with New Zealand Defence personnel.

The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) were agreed in 1971 and the member states are the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. Since then the FPDA have evolved in light of the developing global security situation and they remain a crucial forum for promoting dialogue and interoperability.

Also, First Deputy Minister of Defence Mr Enayatullah Nazari last week met with members of the Grenadier Guards to thank them for their hard work and sacrifice during their tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The Minister, who is responsible for the civilians working in the Afghan Ministry of Defence, met Commanding Officer Roly Walker and some of his troops at Wellington Barracks in London and spent time looking over photographs of their time serving on Operation Herrick

Vigilance learnt that he was in London for a series of meetings including with his UK counterpart, Ursula Brennan, Permanent Under Secretary of State for Defence.

Expressing his appreciation, Mr Nazari said: “Meeting the Grenadier Guards today has given me the opportunity to offer the heartfelt thanks of the government of Afghanistan for the contribution they made during their time in our country to its security and development.

“This visit has cemented the relationship between our two countries. I have been able to meet with my counterparts in the UK MOD so that we can exchange ideas and working practices which I have found extremely useful and I will introduce these new ideas into my department"

While Mrs Brennan enthused: “It has been a pleasure to meet with Mr Nazari again after I met him during my trip to Afghanistan last year.

“As partners in Afghanistan it is vitally important that we are constantly communicating and sharing our experiences in this way and Mr Nazari’s visit has further contributed to the close relationship and understanding we share with Afghanistan.”

OTHER DEFENCE AND STRATEGY NEWS

FRONTLINE TROOPS RECEIVE LIGHTWEIGHT MAGAZINE WORTH READING ABOUT

Troops fighting in Afghanistan are now using new, lightweight see-through magazines for the SA80 rifle, further reducing the weight of their kit, the MOD announced today.

Made from a lightweight plastic, the 30-round Magpul EMAG magazine is around half the weight of a standard metal magazine, yet even more robust. More than 100,000 have already been delivered to troops on operations and in total over a million will be sent to Afghanistan under the four year, £13 million contract with Hereford-based distributors Level Peaks Associations.

A clear window in the magazine allows troops to easily monitor how much ammunition they have left, helping them ensure they have sufficient levels at critical points in battle.

The EMAG’s durability is further enhanced by an easily detachable cover to help protect against dust and sand while the magazine is being carried – meaning fewer need replacing.

Cpl Stevie Japp, from Falkirk, a soldier with The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said:

"The new magazines are a great bit of kit. The little window lets me see how many rounds I have left at a glance and it's a lighter and more robust design. The dust cap is a useful addition in the dusty Afghan conditions as it helps keep ammo clean."

Minster for Defence, Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, said:

“We are committed to ensuring our Armed Forces have world class equipment, including making use of the latest technology to reduce the weight of our troops’ personal kit. As well as being lighter for troops to carry, these new magazines are also stronger and easier to use.

“This contract with LevelPeaks represents excellent value for money, allowing us to provide our Armed Forces with improved equipment at lower cost to the taxpayer.”

Made from polymer, the EMAG weighs 130g compared to its metal equivalent of 249g. Troops carry up to 12 magazines, so this change means each carries around 1 kilogramme less weight in total than before.

PRIME MINISTER WELCOMES NEW RAF C-17 AIRCRAFT

Prime Minister David Cameron last week unveiled a new C-17 Globemaster at RAF Brize Norton. The transport aircraft will bolster the airbridge between the UK and frontline operations.

The Prime Minister had a tour and met the crew of the aircraft, which has been declared ready for operations and will start flying troops and equipment to the frontline at the beginning of February.

Mr Cameron said: "What I am looking at today is the investment that we're making to make sure that we succeed in Afghanistan, and make sure we have got the very

best airbridge between Britain and Afghanistan.

“This aircraft can carry three Apache helicopters, or take a whole Chinook helicopter.

“It's a very efficient piece of equipment and it's very good news that we are investing in this - evidence that we're giving our armed forces the capability, the flexibility and the mobility that they need to do the job that we ask them to.

“It's lovely to be here and say thank you to the people who are here working very hard to make sure the airbridge between Afghanistan and Britain is open and working well."

The C-17’s huge capacity means it can carry loads weighing up to 70 tonnes, for example it can transport three Warrior armoured vehicles. It will join the six other aircraft that make up the C-17 fleet, which are operated by 99 Squadron at the Oxfordshire base.

Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, said: “The RAF’s C-17 fleet has provided outstanding service in support of operations and humanitarian relief efforts around the world. The fleet has already clocked up an impressive 65,000 flying hours during its missions. The C-17 is a real workhorse in the RAF fleet.”

The multi-million pound aircraft can fly over 4,500 nautical miles, flying above 30,000 feet to undertake trans-continental flights. It can to fly directly to HelmandProvince from the UK.

C-17s can also be converted rapidly to offer Intensive Care provision. In this role it provides exceptional support to the Aeromedical Airbridge, with one aircraft on standby 24-hours a day to fly seriously injured personnel back to the UK at short notice.

In addition, the aircraft have been deployed to help with humanitarian and disaster relief efforts around the world. The C-17 fleet provided assistance during the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, as well as the Pakistan and Chilean earthquakes.

Air Officer Commanding 2 Group, Air Vice-Marshal Philip Osborn, said:

“The RAF C-17 fleet, along with the rest of the Airbridge, delivers an incredible capability to our deployed forces on the front line. I am also extremely proud of the outstanding contribution that all our aircraft and personnel are making to continued progress in Afghanistan.

• MOD ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO ALLOWANCES FOR SERVICE PERSONNEL

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) last week announced changes to the allowances paid to the Armed Forces for expenses incurred in Service. The move will ensure that the allocation of allowances is fair and appropriate to meet the needs Service personnel.

The savings measures announced last week follow an extensive review of the allowances system which has attempted to ensure the eligibility criteria are appropriate and the rates are set at realistic levels. All actual, unavoidable expenses incurred for Service reasons will continue to be reimbursed.

Allowances paid for operations and separation from families have remained the highest priorities for reimbursement and lower earners have been protected as much as possible.

The changes announced last week affected abroad range of allowances. Alterations to the Local Overseas Allowance (LOA), paid to personnel stationed abroad, will save around £30m per year, given current exchange rates, after the staged introduction of savings to April 2012. The Department has already announced adjustments to the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) which are expected to save £20m a year.

The Right Honourable Andrew Robathan MP, Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, said: “This Government knows that these changes will require some readjustment and will be painful for some personnel as they come into effect over the next three years. But we are all aware of the financial difficulties currently facing the country and we have had to make hard decisions. Where possible we are implementing the changes gradually over a number of years to ensure that personnel have time to adjust.  All Government departments have had to cut expenditure, and the Defence budget is not exempt from this. These changes are absolutely necessary to get spending under control.”

The Prime Minister set out the need to reduce allowances as part of the wider Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), published in October 2010. Savings of £250m a year from the current annual Service allowances bill of £880m have been identified following an extensive review of the system.

The review has expressly not targeted those on operations which is why no changes are proposed for Operational Allowance, Longer Separation Allowance, or Unpleasant Working Allowance.