Latest news with #UKArmedForces
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer unveils major Armed Forces plan - 'our duty'
Military personnel, veterans and their families will see their rights and access to public services legally protected under major plans announced by the Prime Minister Military personnel, veterans and their families will see their rights and access to public services legally protected under major plans announced by the Prime Minister. As the nation marks Armed Forces Day on Saturday, Keir Starmer will announce a new legal duty for all government departments to consider the needs of the armed forces community when making new policy. Initiatives could include extending travel benefits to the families of veterans and the bereaved, or flexible working for partners of serving personnel who are required to move as part of their role in the Armed Forces. Legislation will be brought forward to deliver Labour 's manifesto promise to bring the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law. The Covenant is a promise to ensure those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. READ MORE: 'I've seen first-hand the grit, sacrifice and pride our service men and women carry' Mr Starmer, who met trainee pilots at RAF Valley in Wales on Friday, said: 'When I became Prime Minister, I made a promise to serve those who have served us. 'Through the new Armed Forces Covenant, we are delivering on that promise — ensuring our service personnel, veterans and their families are treated with the respect they deserve – that is our duty. 'Our Armed Forces Covenant will put our Armed Forces community at the very heart of government decision-making. Their courage, duty, and sacrifice are the foundation of our national values, and they deserve nothing less.' As part of the Covenant's new legal duty, priority support will be given to those who have sacrificed the most, including the injured or bereaved. Local authorities, NHS bodies, and schools will also have a duty to consider the needs of the armed forces community in their decision-making. The government will also be legally required to publish an annual report on the Covenant's delivery and progress. Ministers have also committed to delivering two above inflation pay awards for service personnel and an extra £1.5bn investment this parliament to improve forces' family housing through the Strategic Defence Review. Saturday's announcement follows the Prime Minister's 'homes for heroes' policy guaranteeing housing for all UK Armed Forces veterans, exempting them from local connection rules for social housing. It also comes after a £3.5million funding injection for wraparound support services for veterans at risk of homelessness, including mental health, employment, and independent living support. Mark Atkinson, Director General, Royal British Legion: Those who have served in the Armed Forces often face unique challenges, for example moving frequently during service can make it hard for families to receive consistent support from public services or for spouses and partners to build careers. 'Expanding the Covenant Legal Duty will help public services better respond to these challenges by ensuring the needs of the Armed Forces community are taken into account when making decisions.'
Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
UK military bases on 'highest level' red alert after US bombing of Iran
The British armed forces are on the highest level of alert for drone strikes after the US bombing of Iran, the Defence Secretary has confirmed British forces stationed throughout the Middle East have been placed on heightened alert for potential drone strikes after the US airstrikes on Iran, as per Defence Secretary John Healey. Healey has affirmed that protection of UK Armed Forces is now at "highest level" amid escalating concerns that the US action might ignite a broader conflict, as published in The Telegraph. Since the strikes took place early Sunday morning, security measures at British bases in the Middle East have been significantly intensified, with staff preparing for the possibility of not only drone attacks but conventional rocket and missile assaults too. The increased state of alert also comes at a time of growing worry over threats to UK bases both domestically and abroad. On Saturday, a British national was apprehended in Cyprus under suspicion of conducting espionage on an RAF base for Iran, closely following an incident where two pro-Palestinian activists infiltrated RAF Brize Norton and caused damage to two planes, reports the Express. In his column for the newspaper on Sunday, Mr Healey penned: "The safety of UK personnel and bases is my top priority. Force protection is at its highest level, and we deployed additional jets this week." Senior defence officials are particularly cautious of the use of drones following an event where Ukrainian drones wreaked havoc on 40 Russian aircrafts –including those capable of carrying nuclear warheads– across Russia. With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russia's employment of Iranian-made Shahed drones has led to widespread power outages and significant destruction of infrastructure. The Shahed-136's explosive payload, originally designed to demolish buildings, can now also deliver lethal fragmentation or thermobaric blasts. Iran has recently deployed these drones against targets in Israel. Earlier this month, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that additional RAF jets would be dispatched to the region to enhance security. British bases in the Middle East include RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, where 14 RAF jets are currently stationed, as well as naval hubs in Bahrain and Oman and shared airbases in Qatar and the UAE. Potential extra security measures could involve increasing armed guards, issuing live ammunition and deploying more radar systems. The US acted independently in its strikes on Iran, and so far Iran's threats of retaliation have been solely directed at America. It is understood that British bases are not yet preparing for any immediate, targeted attack, but the heightened alert reflects the broad range of threats - from rockets to improvised explosive devices - that UK forces could potentially face.
Telegraph
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
British bases on high alert for Iranian drone swarms
UK bases in the Middle East are on heightened alert for drone strikes after the US bombing of Iran. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said UK Armed Forces protection was at its 'highest level' amid fears that the US action could escalate into a wider conflict. It is understood UK bases across the Middle East have increased security since the US action in the early hours of Sunday morning, with personnel on high alert for drone attacks as well as conventional rockets and missiles. It comes amid increasing fears over the security of British bases at home and overseas. On Saturday, a British man was arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on an RAF base on behalf of Iran. On Friday, two pro-Palestinian protesters breached security at RAF Brize Norton and vandalised two planes. In a post on X on Sunday, Mr Healey said: 'The safety of UK personnel and bases is my top priority. Force protection is at its highest level, and we deployed additional jets this week.' Defence chiefs are likely to be concerned about the threat of drone attacks on UK bases after a swarm of Ukrainian drones damaged 40 Russian warplanes, including long-range nuclear-capable aircraft, at bases across the country. Russia has used Iranian-made Shahed drones to devastating effect in Ukraine, triggering blackouts and damaging key power facilities. The explosive charge of the Shahed-136 model was originally designed to destroy buildings but now also carries charges designed to kill via fragmentation or thermobaric bombs. Iran has also launched these drones against targets in Israel over the past weeks. Earlier this month, Sir Keir Starmer said he was sending more RAF jets to the Middle East to protect UK assets. British bases in the Middle East include RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, where 14 RAF jets are now based, naval bases in Bahrain and Oman, and shared airbases in Qatar and the UAE. Steps the bases could take to protect against Iranian threats could include increasing the number of guards on patrol, issuing more troops in bases with live ammunition and deploying more radar systems. It is understood British bases are not yet preparing for any specific imminent attack, with the high alert level encompassing a broad range of threats from rockets to improvised explosive devices. There have also been concerns about threats on UK soil. Last year, British troops were deployed to several US air bases across England amid reports of multiple unidentified drones flying over their airspace. Military sources said that while it was not known whether they were dealing with a 'troublemaker' or something 'more sinister' – such as Russian involvement – there were concerns that a state actor could be behind the disruption. Investment in drone technology was central to the Government's recent strategic defence review, with Mr Healey announcing more than £100 million to develop its land drone swarm programme. In a significant breakthrough, a recent British Army radio wave trial in Wales took down a drone swarm for the first time, using specially developed weaponry. It comes as serious questions have been raised about Britain's ability to secure its military bases after the break-in at RAF Brize Norton last week, with ministers urged to explain 'how on earth' the breach had been allowed to happen. It emerged on Friday that part of the eight-mile perimeter was protected only by a 6ft wooden fence. Stretching for around 170 metres, it skirts along the end of the runway and is protected from the road by only a small line of wooden and concrete bollards. Downing Street announced shortly after the incident that it was 'reviewing security across the whole defence estate'. Ministers were warned earlier this month about security risks at bases in the review, which singled out Brize Norton as a 'high priority for investment and improvement'. It said: 'The changing nature of the threat to UK and allied security means that RAF logistic support arrangements must be more resilient to disruption and military assault, requiring a different approach to fighting from air bases, and deeper, more dispersed stockpiles of munitions, spare parts, and fuel.' The review called on the RAF to 'drive greater productivity to enhance its resilience', adding that Brize Norton 'should be a high priority for investment and improvement'.
Belfast Telegraph
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Watch: Red Arrows soar over Northern Ireland for Armed Forces Day
The Royal Air Force aerobatic team, renowned for their precision flying and dramatic formations, made their only Northern Ireland appearance of the year today, with their display taking place at 2:15pm over the Co Down town. Armed Forces Day ran from 10:30am to 5:00pm and is free to attend. Organisers promised a packed programme, including air shows, live music, interactive STEM exhibits, and family-friendly activities, all celebrating the contribution of the Armed Forces community. Armed Forces Day provided a unique opportunity for the public to gain insight into the work of the UK Armed Forces and to show support for the entire military community — from active personnel and veterans to cadets and their families. The free event featured a packed schedule of activities designed to engage visitors of all ages, with this year's line-up described as one of the most impressive to date. Highlights included dazzling aerial displays by the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and The Falcons, the RAF's premier military parachute display team. On the ground, attendees had the chance to explore a range of military exhibits and equipment not typically accessible to the public, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at life in the Armed Forces.
Scotsman
18-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Hackers, Spies and Saboteurs: How Leonardo will help to fortify UK Defence against Cyber Attacks
New service will support the delivery of a range of simulated attacks against Armed Forces target systems, replicating 'real world' adversaries to protect against security vulnerabilities. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Under a new three-year contract, defence company Leonardo has been chosen by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to manage 'red team and cyber adversary simulation' operations across UK Armed Forces bases and networks. As hostile states step up attempts to sow disruption and chaos, the new service will ensure that UK Armed Forces are as well defended and resilient as possible. A red team plays the role of an adversary, by simulating a cyber-attack against an organisation based on real world tactics, techniques and procedures, to test resilience and identify ways of improving cyber security. This can involve a combination of live activities to test on-site security, as well as simulated cyber attacks against critical networks. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leonardo already provides red team services to a range of customers, however under this new contract the company will be working closely with the MOD to manage the smooth delivery of the red team simulations. Leonardo will provide technical and delivery support to the MOD, to hire best-of-British red teams and cyber security experts from large consultancies to specialist SMEs, to carry out simulated attacks against a range of military targets. Under a new three-year contract, defence company Leonardo has been chosen by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to manage 'red team and cyber adversary simulation' operations across UK Armed Forces bases and networks. The three-year contract has been placed by the Ministry of Defence's Strategic Command and will see Leonardo work closely with UKStratCom security leads to establish a 'Red Team Delivery Cell'. Leonardo already supports cyber security efforts the length and breadth of the Ministry of Defence estate, under the Defence Digital Cyber Resilience Programme. Wherever there's a digital system, Leonardo might either audit it or check if it's a cyber risk. This 'investigations as a service' provision covers a range of Armed Forces networks. The red team and cyber adversary simulation contract is part of the growth of Leonardo's UK-based cyber security business. The Cyber & Security Division doubled their revenue between 2020 and 2023, achieving £100m revenue in 2024. This is in line with the company's broader European and global strategy in the cyber security sector, to strengthen services, technologies and collaborative efforts to accelerate the demand for Cyber Resilience Services. Leonardo has more recently achieved significant results with major contracts, partnering with prime technology leaders and pursuing further opportunities in cyber security, secure digital solutions and mission critical communication. This reinforces the Company's position in Europe, responding with advanced proprietary products and innovative solutions to meet evolving digital transformation requirements at both a national and international level.
