Round-up of the latest stories making the headlines Defence Matters RAF Regiment open to women Century of periscope excellence The RAF has become the first branch of An innovative firm of Glaswegian the British military to open up every role to engineers has celebrated 100 years of men and women. being the sole periscope and optronics From 1 September it was accepting mast supplier to the Royal Navy’s applications from women to join the RAF submarines. Regiment – its ground-fighting force. Govan-based Thales delivered the The move follows a decision last correspondent Jonathan Beale. But, he first submarine periscope, the FY1, year to lift the ban on women serving adds, it is a significant moment because to the submarine M3 (right) in late in close combat roles. The main role of it means women can now apply for any summer 1917. Since then, every class including providing thermal imaging the 2,000-strong RAF Regiment, which RAF role, from pilot to ground support. of RN submarine has been fitted with a and night vision capabilities. The masts sustained casualties in Afghanistan, is The RAF’s women will not be the first periscope or optronics mast designed can complete a full 360° sweep of the to patrol and protect RAF bases and allowed to serve in close combat roles, as and built by Thales’ engineers in horizon, looking for potential threats, airfields. some recently joined the Royal Armoured Glasgow. in only a few seconds, providing high With women making up just 10% of the Corps. But it will be another year before Today Thales’ state-of-the-art optronics definition images of the battle space to air force as a whole, there is unlikely to be women can apply to enter Army infantry masts support submarine navigation, commanders before they are detected a flood of applications, says BBC defence units and the Royal Marines. warfare and communications systems, by an adversary. HMS Argyll heading for Japan Medal parade for Moray troops The Times reports that on Prime Minister A medal parade was held to honour Moray Theresa May’s visit to Japan she troops returning home from a United announced that Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll Nations mission in Africa, The Press & will be deployed to take part in Japanese Journal reported. military exercises in December 2018. Soldiers from Kinloss Barracks have The piece notes that this joint exercise been in South Sudan as part of the between UK and Japanese troops will UK’s contribution to the peacekeeping a civilian camp to allow aid agencies to be the first time that non-US troops have Speaking at the National Security efforts. deliver much-needed assistance. trained on Japanese soil. Council, the Prime Minister said: “I The members of 39 Engineer Regiment am determined that our defence and Officer in command, Major Wayne The deployment of HMS Argyll will be have been there since November last year Meek, said: “Conditions were extremely security cooperation will continue to go as part of Operation Trenton. part of the wider ongoing programme from strength to strength, enhancing tough at times both with the weather, the of regional Defence Engagement, our collective response to threats to the Working in intense heat the detachment tense security situation and the prevalence demonstrating the growing relationship. international order and to global peace helped build a new hospital, installed of diseases. The squadron has worked Britain will also send cyberexperts to help and security, through increased power generators and built water pipes long hours during the deployment but it Japan prepare for the Olympic Games in cooperation on defence, cyber security, to combat the effects of flooding. The was important to us to achieve as much as Tokyo in 2020. and counter-terrorism.” squadron also increased security around possible in the time we were there.” RAF Typhoons sent to Estonia New shipbuilding strategy unveiled Various news outlets reported that RAF Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon Defence Secretary Typhoons have deployed to Estonia. has unveiled a new national shipbuilding Sir Michael Fallon told Following the end of their deployment strategy intended to benefit UK shipyards. BBC Breakfast this was a “huge opportunity” on NATO’s Enhanced Air Policing South in The government plans to buy at least for UK shipyards – Romania, a pair of RAF Typhoons deployed five frigates, and share the work between including those in north to Estonia in support of NATO’s shipyards around the UK. enhanced Forward Presence. Scotland – which could The first batch of new Type 31e frigates bid for these “big contracts” next year, with Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon unwavering commitment to the security of Europe.” will bolster a depleted Royal Navy fleet, building expected to start the following year. said: “Since last year’s Warsaw Summit, but it is hoped foreign navies will buy future the UK is stepping up its commitment to Earlier this year troops from the 5th “It’s a great day for the Royal Navy.” ships. It comes as the Ministry of Defence NATO, nowhere more clearly than in the Battalion The Rifles and around 300 Army The navy currently uses Type 23 frigates, aims to save billions of pounds. Baltic States. NATO’s presence on land, vehicles, including Challenger 2 tanks, which would be slowly phased out, added sea and air is vital to secure peace and joined French and Danish forces in the The new frigates would be built across Sir Michael. They are to be replaced by prosperity. We are there, standing shoulder country. And other countries have sent different shipyards, but assembled at a eight Type 26 frigates, which are being built to shoulder with our allies in the face of any troops to Latvia, Poland and Lithuania as central site, and ready for service by 2023. in Glasgow, and five of the smaller Type potential threats thereby demonstrating our part of Nato’s Enhanced Forward Presence. Their cost would be capped at £250m each. 31e frigates. Missiles tested off Scots coast UK troops numbers in Iraq to rise The Royal Navy’s new air missile British troop numbers in Iraq are set to defence system has been successfully rise with the deployment of additional tested off the coast of Scotland, the MoD troops to the country, the MoD has announced. announced. The Sea Ceptor missiles were fired According to the Ministry of Defence, from HMS Argyll, a Type 23 frigate. 44 additional Royal Engineers will deploy to Al Asad Airbase in August, increasing The weapons can intercept and destroy the UK footprint there to over 300 and backed by coalition airstrikes, have now enemy missiles travelling at supersonic It will be able to deal with multiple bringing the total number of British troops liberated 70% of the territory Daesh held speeds and will form part of the protection targets at the same time, protecting an in Iraq to over 600. and the victims of its barbarism are being for the Navy’s new aircraft carriers. area of about 500 square miles (1,295 Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, said: helped by our humanitarian support. The first trials took place in the Outer square km) over land or sea. “We are stepping up our contribution These extra troops will help support Hebrides range in July. Harriett Baldwin, minister for defence to the fight against Daesh and fulfilling operations to bring the defeat of Daesh a Sea Ceptor uses a missile capable of procurement, announced the successful Britain’s role as a key player in the global step closer.” reaching speeds of up to Mach 3 – three firings during a visit to defence company coalition. According to a press release, the troops times the speed of sound. MBDA in Filton, Bristol. “Daesh is being defeated. Iraqi forces, will primarily be training Iraqi forces. *The information above is gathered from published articles and the views expressed do not reflect official Government policy..