photo RAF
Government policy on national space security outlining measures to take.
The National Space Security Policy sets out a coherent approach to the UK’s space security interests and outlines measures to make the United Kingdom more resilient to the risk of disruption to space services and capabilities, enhance our national security interests through space, promote a safe and more secure space environment and enable industry and academia to exploit science and grasp commercial opportunities.
National space security policy
Ref: UKSA/14/764 PDF, 353KB, 20 pages
15 May 2014 Ministry of Defence
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond delivered a speech at the Reform Annual Dinner in London on Tuesday 13 May.
During his speech, Mr Hammond looked back on where MOD was 4 years ago and the efforts that have been made to transform Defence into a ‘disciplined department with a clear sense of direction’.
Mr Hammond talked about the efforts MOD has made to effect this change; one of the biggest transformation programmes ever undertaken in the western world.
He spoke of making tough decisions to get the budget under control, retiring long-running capabilities, making cuts to armed forces manpower and overhauling the infrastructure and equipment organisations:
We have balanced the books by taking a hard-headed approach to what we can and cannot afford.
We’ve published a balanced and deliverable equipment plan, something the government has not done before, giving everyone within Defence greater transparency and greater certainty to be able to plan for the future.
The need for a leaner, more strategic workforce was also stressed in Mr Hammond’s speech.
The objective of having the right people in place and fewer people doing a better job were part of the foundations of his argument that MOD is now running in a more businesslike manner.
Making reference to accountability and responsibility in terms of maintaining a stable budget he said:
We chose to delegate budgets downwards to the front line commanders. People now have a vested interest in knowing both the cost and the value of what they are doing. Now they are responsible for managing their multi-billion-pound businesses.
And it has paid off. We only commit when we’re sure we can afford not just the capital cost but the year-on-year running costs as well.
Decisions like whether we invest more in simulation by reducing live flying hours should clearly be taken by the RAF and not by politicians in Whitehall. Already, this devolution of power from the centre has paid dividends in promoting a culture of initiative.
Towards the end of his speech he spoke of the current imperative ‘to institutionalise innovation throughout the organisation’, describing it as ‘the lifeblood for reform’.
He emphasised that it was being achieved by empowering people with clear objectives on what they must deliver but with flexibility about how they deliver it.
Mr Hammond concluded his speech by saying that he was proud of what has been achieved so far but reiterated that there is still work to be done.
5 December 2013 Ministry of Defence
Defence Reform report by Lord Levene published in June 2011 and annual reviews of the progress MOD has made on implementing his recommendations.
Documents
Ref: ISBN 9780108510663, ID P002437128 06/11 PDF, 1.34MB
PDF, 1.24MB
PDF, 69.5KB, 4 pages
PDF, 37.1KB, 9 pages
Detail
In 2010 the Secretary of State for Defence asked Lord Levene of Portsoken, a former Chief of Defence Procurement, to independently review defence. Lord Levene published his Defence Reform report in June 2011, setting out 53 recommendations.
Lord Levene recommended that each year for 3 years following the publication of his report he produce an independent review of the progress that MOD had made on implementing his recommendations. His first annual review was published in 2012 and his second review in 2013.
05 Oct 2013 By Edward Malnick, and Patrick Sawer - telegraph.co.uk
Four weapons testers were rescued from a bunker by an armoured vehicle after an explosion at a Ministry of Defence (MoD) site. Although MoD Shoeburyness is a military testing site there are civilians who live within its perimeter.
Around 22lb (10kg) of explosives were involved in the blast at a weapons testing centre at MoD Shoeburyness, near Southend-on-Sea, Essex, according to Essex Fire Service.
The weapons testers were freed by MoD officers in an armoured personnel carrier, but there were no injuries.
Five fire crews attended the incident, which happened at around 11am on Saturday.
A spokesman for QinetiQ, the private defence contractor that runs the Blackgate Road munitions centre, said: "No-one was hurt in the incident at our environmental test centre and we are conducting a full investigation into what happened as is part of our standard safety procedures."
Although Shoeburyness is a military testing site there are civilians who live within its perimeter. There is also a pub and a village shop.
Warning signs alert motorists that ordnance tests are carried out and roads through the site are closed to civilian traffic when tests are in progress.
In August 2002 Terry Jupp, a Government scientist, was killed when a secret bomb-making experiment left him with extensive burns.
An inquest held in 2010 found that the tests – intended to discover more about al-Qaida's bomb-making capabilities – had been poorly planned and organised.
Jupp, 46, who had worked for the Ministry of Defence for more than 20 years, was a member of a joint Anglo-American team conducting the experiment on the island of Foulness, part of the MoD's weapons testing site at Shoeburyness.
The jury at the inquest concluded that planning and risk assessment had not been appropriate.
It found that a small scale test could have been carried out in advance; adequate regard was not paid to personal protective equipment; and communication and organisation at the trials appeared inadequate.
![General Wall receives a briefing about redeployment from Lieutenant Colonel Ceri Morton [Picture: Corporal Si Longworth, UK MoD]](http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/0/54/74/56/201306/ob_4bce03_s300-tfh-1mechbde-2013-042-698-jpg.jpeg)
General Wall receives a briefing about redeployment from Lieutenant Colonel Ceri Morton [Picture: Corporal Si Longworth, UK MoD]
10 June 2013 Ministry of Defence
The head of the British Army has visited UK Service personnel working in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.
General Sir Peter Wall travelled to Lashkar Gah, where he visited the Headquarters of Task Force Helmand and spoke with the Commander of British Forces in Helmand, Brigadier Rupert Jones, who updated him on the role of his troops in support of Afghan security forces.
General Wall also met with the Provincial Reconstruction Team’s Head of Mission, Catriona Laing, to discuss how civilian and military colleagues are working together to ensure Helmand’s progress in governance, development and the rule of law are maintained beyond the drawdown of UK forces from the region.
General Wall then travelled to the Lashkar Gah Training Centre (LTC) where he was briefed by the Commanding Officer of the Police Mentoring and Advisory Group (PMAG), Lieutenant Colonel Robin Lindsay.
The PMAG, formed from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS), works directly with the Afghan police who will provide enduring security across Helmand.
While at the LTC, General Wall viewed new recruits of the Afghan National Police conducting training to counter the threat of improvised explosive devices.
Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay said:
The Laskar Gah Training Centre is a centre of police excellence and a reflection of the institutional and tactical progress that the Afghan Police have made over the last 4 years.
The standards here are high and the quality of graduates illustrates the increasing professionalism of the police. These policemen and women represent the future for Helmand’s security, so to see their enthusiasm to serve their local communities is really encouraging.
General Wall then flew to the main British operating base in Helmand, Camp Bastion, where he visited the Brigade Advisory Group (BAG), made up of 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 RIFLES), under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Tom Bewick.
The BAG advises the Afghan National Army’s 3/215 Brigade, and General Wall took the opportunity to watch Afghan soldiers conduct mortar training in the adjacent Afghan Camp Shorabak.
Before leaving Camp Bastion, General Wall visited the Headquarters of Joint Force Support (Afghanistan) where he was briefed by the commander, Air Commodore John Bessell. He then conducted a tour of the various sites on camp involved in the redeployment of military equipment back to the UK – a process that is well underway since it began in October 2012.
General Wall said:
It’s invaluable to come and get an assessment from those on the ground of the progress we’re making, the issues we are having to confront as the campaign evolves, and also to see what sort of shape our people are in.
This was also a great opportunity to see for myself the quality of the training that the Afghan Police and Army are undertaking and I have been impressed by both their professionalism and confidence.
The change between what I found at Christmas time during my last visit and the current situation is quite remarkable.
![General Richard Barrons [Picture: Harland Quarrington, Crown copyright]](http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/0/54/74/56/201304/ob_bd5b7fe53744bb6d2cec9a630a76669f_s300-45154827-jpg.jpeg)
General Richard Barrons [Picture: Harland Quarrington, Crown copyright]
23 April 2013 Ministry of Defence
Joint Forces Command (JFC) has welcomed a new commanding officer following its recent move to full operating capability.
On 19 April, General Richard Barrons took command of JFC in succession to Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach.
The creation of JFC, which reached full operating capability on 2 April, brings together more than 30,000 military and civilian personnel to ensure that joint capabilities are correctly prioritised. Reaching full operating capability means that JFC is now fully-manned and able to fulfil the entire range of its responsibilities in support of Defence’s objectives for current operations, future contingencies and for the longer term.
On his last day in command, Air Chief Marshal Peach said:
Joint Forces Command is now a reality. It has been a privilege to be its first commander. There is much to do: to support success on operations, to deliver the outputs for which we are responsible and - above all - to look after everyone in the command. General Richard Barrons is the ideal man to take the command to the next level.
General Barrons, who was previously the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations), said:
My predecessor has very successfully set the foundations of this outstanding organisation. I am proud and excited to assume command as JFC reaches the milestone of full operating capability. The JFC has the unique ability and opportunity to assist the transformation of UK Defence whilst delivering critical capabilities required for success on operations today. I look forward to leading the JFC to realise our full potential.
In addition to thousands of personnel working in Cyprus, Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands and the British Indian Ocean Territory, JFC also includes the Defence Academy in Wiltshire and Defence Intelligence and cyber capabilities.
A number of units have also been transferred to the command to ensure better training and coherence for a range of specialities, from medical specialists to linguists and military surveyors. A key aim of the establishment of JFC is to create a more direct link between front line experience and top-level planning.
Air Chief Marshal Peach will succeed General Sir Nicholas Houghton as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in May 2013.
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