Corporal Matthews positioning a Ugandan soldier to provide all-round defence [Picture: Crown copyright]
Reservists from 4th Battalion the Mercian Regiment have been training soldiers of the Ugandan People’s Defence Force.
This is part of a wider effort to increase the role of the UK Reserve Forces both on major operations and smaller deployments.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-reservists-train-ugandan-soldiers
Squadron Leader Jim Schofield RAF performs the first short takeoff at sea in a F-35B aircraft from the USS Wasp [Picture: Todd R McQueen, Lockheed Martin]
UK military pilots have been involved in the second round of vertical night landings at sea of the new F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft.
The pilots, along with UK ground crew, are testing 3 Lightning II jets at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, working alongside their counterparts from the US Marine Corps.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lightning-ii-jets-in-vertical-night-landing-tests
Flight Lieutenant William Wales in the cockpit of an RAF Sea King helicopter (library image) [Picture: Senior Aircraftwoman Faye Storer, Crown copyright]
The Duke of Cambridge has completed his tour of duty with the Search and Rescue Force at RAF Valley.
During his last shift, Flight Lieutenant William Wales and his crew had an uneventful 24 hours which ended at 9.30am on Tuesday, 10 September 2013.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/flight-lieutenant-william-wales-completes-raf-search-and-rescue-duties
A Foxhound Light Protected Patrol Vehicle [Picture: Corporal Si Longworth, Crown copyright]
The MOD is to buy an additional 24 Foxhound vehicles for the British Army in a new £23 million contract.
Foxhound, designed and built in the UK by General Dynamics Land Systems: Force Protection Europe, first deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 and has proved successful on operations.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-foxhound-vehicles-for-british-army
Apache helicopters at Stanford Training Area in Norfolk [Picture: Crown copyright]
The MOD has awarded a £367 million contract to provide engine maintenance for 2 of the UK’s military helicopter fleets.
The 6-year agreement with Rolls-Royce Turbomeca will deliver essential support for the Army’s Apaches and the Merlin helicopters used by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/military-helicopter-support-contract-awarded
Body armour containing ceramic ballistic plates helps protect UK Service personnel on operations (library image) [Picture: Corporal Barry Lloyd, Crown copyright]
A new partnership between MOD and industry will develop the UK’s first centre of excellence for ceramic armour development.
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and Kennametal Manufacturing UK Ltd are jointly funding the £2 million facility in Newport, South Wales.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-armour-research-and-development-centre-announced
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond speaking on the first day of DSEI 2013 [Picture: Petty Officer (Photographer) Derek Wade, Crown copyright]
Taking place over 4 days this week, the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition is showcasing the biggest and best kit on offer in the defence sector.
From missiles to body armour and vehicles to hand-held weapons, DSEI hosts manufacturers of the equipment that keeps military forces around the world ready for operations.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-worlds-largest-defence-and-security-event
Reservist soldiers from the London Regiment clear a building [Picture: Corporal Obi Igbo, Crown copyright]
Troops from the London Regiment, the capital’s only Territorial Army infantry regiment, are being tested in a gruelling battle exercise.
The soldiers have put their civilian jobs to one side for 2 weeks this month as they take part in a battle exercise to test their front line operational effectiveness.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/london-reservists-hone-military-skills
Computer-generated image of the Sea Ceptor missile system [Picture: Copyright MBDA UK Ltd]
A new naval air defence system that can intercept and destroy enemy missiles is to be manufactured in the UK under a £250 million contract.
Sea Ceptor, which will be fitted to the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates and, in future, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship, is a cutting-edge missile designed and built by MBDA.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-navy-missile-contract-sustains-500-uk-jobs
A historic naval air squadron is to be resurrected as the first Royal Navy formation to fly the Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
809 Naval Air Squadron, whose motto is simply ‘Immortal’, is to be reformed to operate the fifth-generation stealth aircraft that will fly from the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class carriers from 2018.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-navy-air-squadron-reformed-to-fly-new-jets
Jackal and Coyote vehicles waiting to be unloaded at Marchwood [Picture: Corporal Lu Scott, Crown copyright]
The delivery of nearly 100 vehicles to the UK from Afghanistan today brings the total number redeployed from theatre to more than 1,000.
94 vehicles were unloaded earlier today, Monday 9 September, at Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre near Southampton after transit from a port in the Middle East.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-than-1000-vehicles-return-from-afghanistan
Soldiers from the Royal Anglian Regiment on Exercise Sava Star in Croatia [Picture: Corporal Andy Reddy RLC, Crown copyright]
Army Reserve soldiers from 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment have been taking part in Exercise Sava Star in Croatia.
The British Army last set foot in the Balkans region 20 years ago as part of the NATO Stabilisation Force when they helped bring calm to the region.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/reserve-soldiers-train-in-croatia
The last patrol out of Shawqat [Picture: Corporal Si Longworth RLC, Crown copyright]
UK troops no longer have a routine presence in the Nad ‘Ali district of Helmand as Afghan forces have assumed full security control.
British troops first entered Nad ‘Ali in 2008 and worked to clear the area of insurgent activity and intimidation while building and developing the capabilities of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police.
Read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-forces-leave-transformed-afghan-district
Top: A gunner makes a river crossing during Exercise Cypher Bayonet; middle left: Gunners plan a patrol during Exercise Cypher Bayonet; centre: A Gunner fights towards an ‘enemy’ position during Exercise Cypher Bayonet; right: Gunners on Exercise Cypher Bayonet and bottom: Gunners on a patrol during Exercise Cypher Bayonet [Pictures: Corporal Obi Igbo, Crown copyright]
Exercise Cypher Bayonet has seen Colchester-based 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (7 Para RHA) prove their ability to perform as infantry soldiers.
The week-long training at the Stanford Training Area, in Norfolk, saw troops practise manoeuvring across hostile countryside, crossing rivers, setting ambushes, and living in the field for prolonged periods.
7 Para RHA’s main commitment is to provide a gun battery at high readiness to deploy for operations from disaster relief to war fighting as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, the British Army’s rapid reaction force.
A trio of Royal Navy warships will sail through the Thames Barrier starting this weekend, in support of 3 major international maritime events taking place in London from 9 to 13 September.
The first to arrive was Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland (pictured), early on today, 6 September. She will be based at the Royal Docks, near the ExCel Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Her sister frigate, HMS Northumberland will go alongside at West India Dock at around 5pm on Saturday, 7 September, before the Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Tyne arrives at 11pm on Sunday night, 8 September, also at the Royal Docks.
The ship visits coincide with the Royal United Services Institute’s Future Maritime Operations conference which takes place at the ExCeL.