UK Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

now I read a very interesting article
Post UK election, 'defense will have to fight hard for what it needs'
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which of course is sprinkled with Politics though, so just the link and one quote:
"... the MoD will likely run a quick mini-review of defense and security strategy ahead of making some hard decisions on issues like future equipment programs."
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
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New concept Hawk demonstrator aircraft takes to the skies

A concept of a future variant of BAE Systems’ highly successful Hawk aircraft has flown for the first time at the Company’s military aircraft facility in Warton, Lancashire. Equipped with a new type of pilot display, a redesigned wing and defensive aids, the Advanced Hawk will meet market requirements for the next generation of fast jet training aircraft.

Whilst the existing Hawk continues to be the world’s most successful jet trainer, the Advanced Hawk concept demonstrator builds on these proven successes. The concept demonstrator features an upgraded cockpit equipped with BAE Systems’ LiteHUD® (a low-profile head-up display) and a new, large area display that introduces a new student/pilot training experience. It also features a redesigned wing that increases performance in areas such as turn rates, angles of attack and both take-off and landing.

Other technology advances include increased stores capability, a new set of defensive aids and a range of new flight systems, all aimed at ensuring Hawk continues to provide the edge in fast jet pilot training, as well as offering increased operational utility.
The first flight of the aircraft builds on its public debut at Aero India 2017 in Bangalore earlier this year.

Steve Timms, Managing Director Defence Information, Training & Services at BAE Systems said: “The successful first flight of the Advanced Hawk concept demonstrator is the latest step in the aircraft’s development and marks a significant milestone in Hawk’s capability upgrade.

“We already have the world’s leading advanced jet trainer and the new features in Advanced Hawk have been developed after listening to our customers’ views on where fast jet pilot training will go in the future and how we ensure the Hawk continues to meet their requirements.

“By using this demonstrator aircraft we have highlighted to existing users of Hawk that many of the proposed features of an Advanced Hawk, such as the large area display and new wing, could be achievable as upgrades.”The aircraft will now undergo a series of flights to collect test data on the new key capability enhancements

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comes from
 
now I read Cuts could leave Trident nuclear base at risk of attack, says police boss
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National chairman of Defence Police Federation to say cuts to the force in wake of three terrorist attacks are frightening

Proposed budget cuts to a police force responsible for protecting the
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nuclear base and other defence sites are “frightening” at a time of heightened security concerns, their representative Eamonn Keating is set to warn in a speech.

He will say that just last week, two sites on the south coast were threatened with withdrawal of all defence police force presence to make savings and that this “is frightening from a security perspective.”

Keating, national chairman of the Defence
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Federation, will say the Ministry of Defence was seeking £12.5m isavings from the MoD police, which he estimates would see the force drop from its nominal strength of around 2,600 to below 2,300.

The MoD police, which is separate from the military police responsible for maintaining discipline, is a separate civilian force armed and engaged mainly in the protection of sensitive sites. It was set up after an attack by the Provisional IRA on the Royal Marine barracks at Deal in 1989.

The force, like police forces throughout the country,
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, dropping from 3,500 officers in 2010.

According to an advance copy of his speech on Thursday to the federation’s annual conference in Stansted, Keating is set to warn that the proposed budget savings will mean a reduction in real terms of around one in 10 firearms officers and a reduction or removal of police protection from MoD sites.

“If this reset goes forward in order to meet an arbitrarily imposed saving set by the department on our force, then security will be reduced, the risk to terrorist or criminal attack will be increased, and the safety of those we protect – both within the department and with the nation as a whole – will be put at risk,” he will say.

“In the current climate, where the threat levels are increasing and we have seen three terrorist attacks over the past 12 weeks, where response is limited and its sustainability – nationally – is under question, this type of decision is outrageous and cannot go unchecked.

“Why would the MoD look to put financial savings, that in the grand scheme of things are minute, over the safety of its people and country?”
 
now noticed Royal Navy amphibious transport dock HMS Albion returning to sea
Royal Navy amphibious transport dock HMS Albion is scheduled to sail from Devonport Naval Base at the end of the week after spending almost six years tied to port in “extended readiness”.

In late 2011 the ship was placed at extended readiness, following the decision by the UK Government in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to operate only one of two amphibious ships at a time.

To be able to return to sea from mothballs, HMS Albion underwent a £90 million mid-life technical upgrade.

In 2015 Babcock Marine began work on the ship’s rejuvenation. In one of Devonport’s largest dry-docks Albion rested temporarily whilst her hull was inspected, and major invasive structural work and re-preservation of the paint scheme was undertaken.

Twelve months later, she was refloated and moved to the non-tidal basin at which point the propulsion and weapon systems were brought alive.

In January of this year 350 sailors and royal marines of her ships company moved back on board and in March the ship was moved to her home berth at Weston Mill.

The capability improvements are significant and necessary and will allow the ship to serve well into 2030s. During the refit 110 improvements have been made.

The most significant being the state-of- the-art Phalanx defensive Close in Weapon System, a new propulsion cooling system to allow the ship to operate more effectively in warmer climates, upgraded surveillance radar and combat system computer brain to manage all the weapons and systems.

HMS Albion now undertakes an intensive sea trials package to confirm performance of all her systems, followed by operational sea training. The ship is scheduled to sail from Devonport Naval Base at the end of the week.
source is NavalToday
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Thursday at 9:41 PM
now noticed Royal Navy amphibious transport dock HMS Albion returning to sea
source is NavalToday
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related picture:
DCdFd0IWsAAp6vf.jpg

found in Twitter
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Sailing on time at the conclusion of a comprehensive update,
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will become the UK's night readiness LPD
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