China is building a second aircraft carrier confirmed

China is building a second aircraft carrier - but this time made entirely from domestic technology, its defence ministry has announced.

The 50,000-tonne vessel is being built in the port of Dalian. It will not be nuclear powered, the ministry says.

China is expanding its navy amid rising tension with its neighbours in the East and South China Seas.

China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is a second-hand Soviet ship built more than 25 years ago.

It was commissioned in 2012 after extensive refits.

'Areas of improvement'

"This [latest] aircraft carrier is being developed according to entirely domestic designs," defence ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a news briefing.

Image copyrightAPImage captionChina's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is a second-hand Soviet ship built more than 25 years agoImage copyrightReutersImage captionThe Chinese naval expansion comes as it raises its profile in the South China Sea

"The design and construction of the second aircraft absorbed the useful experience of research and training from the Liaoning.

"This led to many areas of improvements and enhancements," he said, without providing details.

Correspondents say that official confirmation of the construction work comes after months of rumours from military officials.

It also comes as China steadily adds to its fleet of cutting-edge frigates, destroyers and nuclear submarines.

Increased Chinese defence expenditure in recent years has caused concern among its neighbours and the US, which is making a foreign policy "pivot" towards Asia.

Royal Navy's Helicopter Assault Carrier Ocean WILL Be Decommission

Britain’s Royal Navy is to decommission its only helicopter assault carrier and hand the task over to one of the new aircraft carriers being built by BAE Systems.

Plans to scrap HMS Ocean in 2018 were part of the strategic defence and security review (SDSR) unveiled Nov 23. The decision to axe the Royal Navy’s flagship only became known when it was briefly mentioned by defence minister Earl Howe in the House of Lords.

The ship, currently the largest in the Royal Navy, only completed a £65 million (US$97.8 million) refit last year.

The Royal Navy denied the warship was being axed earlier than planned.

HMS Ocean will not decommission early and will continue in service as planned well into this Parliament. As part of the SDSR process, the decision was taken not to extend her and to decommission her in 2018, in line with her 20-year life span,” the navy said in a statement.

The SDSR said that one of two 65,000-ton Queen Elizabeth-class carriers now being assembled at Rosyth in Scotland will be “enhanced” to support Royal Marine amphibious operations.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said HMS Prince of Wales, the second of the two carriers due for completion, would likely be earmarked for the addition of new systems to support amphibious operations.

The assault ships Bulwark or Albion, or HMS Queen Elizabeth, could help fill the gap until the Prince of Wales is ready early in the next decade.

Queen Elizabeth, the first of class, is scheduled to be commissioned in 2017 and start helicopter flight trials in the same year. Flight trials of the Lockheed Martin F-35B combat jets are set to get underway the following year.Current plans do not envisage both carriers operating at the same time except in an emergency.

Royal Navy’s new Type 26 Frigate impresses MPs

A FRESH model of Britain’s future frigate – the Type 26 Global Combat Ship – has been revealed.

The ship, which is due to take over from the aging Type 23 as the Royal Navy’s workhorse from the 2020s, was unveiled during an arms expo in London.

ortsmouth South MP Flick Drummond came face-to-face with the new frigate at the Defence Security and Equipment International exhibition.

She said: ‘It’s really vital that the Royal Navy has this sort of 21st century ship if Britain is to effectively punch its weight in the world and offer maritime security and humanitarian aid to those who need it in the years to come.’

The frigate will boast state-of-the-art weaponry and capacity for either two Wildcat or one Merlin helicopters in a purpose-built hanger, as well as the ability for a Chinook to land on her deck.

It is also almost as long as the current Type 45 destroyers and will have a top speed of 28 knots.

Britain’s most senior sailor said: ‘Our current Type 23 frigates are recognized globally as one of the quietest and most effective submarine hunters ever brought into service.

‘But they are ageing and if we are to maintain this level of capability - against the backdrop of a global proliferation of nuclear and conventional submarines - then the Type 26 is crucial.’

The future frigate is being designed by BAE Systems and is due to be the backbone of the Royal Navy until about 2050.

Here's Why Britain's Military Could Beat China

China's armed forces makes a lot of headlines these days, with 2.3 million active military personnel and the world's second largest defense budget. Some people, like the bloggers at Global Firepower, take this to mean that China has the world's third most powerful military, behind the U.S. and Russia and followed by India and Britain. But this thankfully abstract debate is far from settled, and one top authority says that China's military is still inferior to little Britain with its 224,500 active military personnel.

Professor Malcolm Chalmers, director of UK Defence Policy Studies at the renowned Royal United Services Institute, says Britain would have a clear advantage in a straight fight at an equidistant location.

Chalmers described the modern paradigm in a widely reported 2011 article:

 The UK will never again be a member of the select club of global superpowers. Indeed it has not been one for decades. But currently planned levels of defence spending should be enough for it to maintain its position as one of the world’s five second-rank military powers (with only the US in the first rank), as well as being (with France) one of NATO-Europe’s two leading military powers. Its edge – not least its qualitative edge – in relation to rising Asian powers seems set to erode, but will remain significant well into the 2020’s, and possibly beyond.

We recently contacted Chalmers to ask if this paradigm still held and to elaborate on how Britain could beat China.

He wrote back:

I think my 2011 comment remains valid. If you take individual elements of front line military capability – air, sea, land — the UK armed forces continue to outmatch those of China in qualitative terms by some margin. The UK also has greater capabilities for getting the most out of these forces, through key enabling capabilities (command and control, intelligence, strategic transport).

Not least, the UK has greater capability than China for operating at range. China (and even more so other Asian powers) remain focused on their immediate neighbourhoods, with limited capabilities for power projection. This is likely to change over the next decade. For now, though, China would still be out-matched qualitatively in a ‘straight fight’ with the UK in an equidistant location (the south Atlantic? The Gulf?), and would be unable to mobilise a force big enough to outweigh this quality gap. China's quantitative advantages would come into play in the event of a conflict in its own neighbourhood – and its qualitative weaknesses would be less important, though still significant. So my statement was never meant to imply that the UK could outmatch China off the latter’s own coastline.

Britain's military power comes at a high cost, namely $61 billion, the fourth highest defense budget in the world behind the U.S. ($683 billion), China ($166 billion), and Russia ($91 billion).

Over time, the rise of China seems inevitable, though it won't pass America in the foreseeable future.

Iran fires unguided rockets just 1,500 yards from US aircraft carrier in 'highly provocative' act

Iran has fired unguided rockets just 1,500 yards from a U.S. aircraft in what has been described as a 'highly provocative' move.

The rocket tests were carried out last Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz, which runs between Oman and Iran, not only coming close to U.S. ships, but also commercial traffic and a French military frigate.

The decision by the Iranian navy to carry out the tests in such close proximity to western vessels has caused new tension between the two nations after a landmark nuclear deal was reached earlier this year.

Commander Kyle Raines, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said Iran's 'actions were highly provocative'.

'Firing weapons so close to passing coalition ships and commercial traffic within an internationally recognized maritime traffic lane is unsafe, unprofessional and inconsistent with international maritime law,' he said. 

In a statement, the U.S. said Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval vessels fired 'several unguided rockets' about 1,500 yards from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, the USS Bulkeley destroyer and a French frigate, the FS Provence.

Withdrawal from Germany – a nightmare for the UK's defence infrastructure?

As the British Army withdraws from Germany by 2019 the UK is going have to find space for essentially two whole divisions of service personnel, their families and a plethora of equipment.

This is part of the Army 2020 restructuring and requires considerable commitment to enhancing military accommodation over the next three years.

But if not handled efficiently, the process could become a logistical nightmare.

Southern England will bear the brunt of the redeployment. Aldershot, the traditional home of the British Army, will host a total of 4,000 troops. And the six bases spread across Salisbury Plain will accommodate another 15,000.

Eastern England with the force's focus around Colchester will host 3,500. Further north the Midlands will house 9,000 and the northeast 7,500.

Scotland by contrast only gets 4,000 – which has led to some muttering amongst Scottish nationalists.

Reabsorbing equipment from Germany will also be a major task. Defence Support Group facilities at Andover, Ashchurch and Donnington will be kept busy, as will their onsite services at the various barracks.

In particular DSG acts as the main storage provider for equipment that needs to be kept in a controlled humidity environment.

This rationalisation of the military estate means that seven sites are to be disposed of.

In addition Marchwood Military Port is to be sold off, but the MoD intends to lease it back rather than relocate the vital Sea Mounting Centre.

The latter has been instrumental in supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as maintaining the garrisons in Cyprus and Germany.

In recent years the Royal Navy has greatly enhanced its sealift capabilities in order to move the army's heavy equipment.

DIO intends to upgrade 800 rooms for single soldiers and 450 homes for families at sites being used to relocate forces from Germany.

However this is just a drop in the ocean as DIO is going to spend £1bn building 7,800 new rooms for single soldiers and 1,900 family homes.

There is an air of urgency to all this as the bulk of the withdrawal from Germany is to be completed by 2016. Whether such an ambitious building programme can be completed by then remains to be seen.

In Hampshire and Wiltshire the county and district councils and police will be bracing themselves to cope with the inevitable problems that will come with such a large influx of people.

Health and social services are also likely to feel the strain at a time when public spending is being cut back.

While retaining military salaries in the UK will be good for the economy, inevitably communities will have to take the rough with the smooth as the bedding in process settles down.

UK’s New Rapid Deployment ‘Strike Brigades’ to Deal With Emerging Threats

The UK is planning a £178 billion investment in defence equipment and support over the next decade, as part of the Government’s five year National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). Among the main items - the establishment of two rapid deployment 'Strike Brigades', procurement of eight P-8A maritime patrol aircarft and life extension for the Typhoon fleet of fighter aircraft.

The last defence review in 2010 is largely remembered for massive spending cuts. The new review will contain a commitment to plug gaps in the UK’s capability, including 138 new F-35B aircraft to fly from the country’s two new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.

The plan calls for the establishment of two new ‘Strike Brigades’ by 2025; these formations will be 5,000 manned with warfighters and equipped with some 600 Ajax family of tracked armored vehicles (previously known as Scout) which are already budgeted for procurement. These new formations are likely to be equipped with additional 8×8 wheeled armored vehicles, yet to be selected by the MOD.

Prepared for rapid deployment, the Strike Brigades will be able to self-deploy over thousands of kilometres, relying on much lower logistic footprint than current formations.


The increased spending is part of a broader strategic investment in defense and security pursued by the British Government as part of the nation’s alignment to face new threats. “We cannot choose between conventional defences against state-based threats and the need to counter threats that do not recognize national borders

Cameron has already said the review will include £2bn over the next five years to bolster Britain’s special forces for the fight against extremist groups such as Isis. It will also double its Reaper drone fleet by 2020.

Other parts of the investment plan focus on the reactivation of the airborne maritime surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare, with the acquisition of 9 newBoeing P8 maritime patrol aircraft. “These roles require an aircraft that can carry Torpedoes, as well as being fitted with a broad range of sensors, including radar and sonobuoys. These aircraft are also be equipped to provide search and rescue and surveillance capabilities overland. The UK decommissioned its maritime surveillance force in 2010, scrapping the fleet of Nimrod aircraft.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) will receive life span extension for its current fleet of Typhoonfighters, extending the lifespan for 10 more years, maintaining the aircraft in service through 2040. This plan will enable the RAF to create two additional squadrons. The aircraft will receive full air-ground capabilities and Captor Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar enabling the planned seven Typhoon squadrons to assume both air/air and air/ground roles.

U.S. Marine Corps rules out robotic dog, mule

The U.S. Marine Corps has decided its Legged Squad Support System, or LS3, also known as the "robotic mule," is too loud to use on the battlefield.

The Marines began testing the robotic mule in a series of training events in September, although officials at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency said the gas-powered quadruped would likely never see actual combat.

The robot was used to carry equipment, lightening the load for troops on the field. Testing events included simulations in forests, open fields and urban environments, where the robot was able to carry over 400 pounds of equipment.

While the project has received praise from testers and participants, officials ultimately decided the robot was too loud, and could pose danger to Marines by giving away their position to the enemy.

"As Marines were using it, there was the challenge of seeing the potential possibility because of the limitations of the robot itself," Marine Corps Warfighting Lab spokesman told Military.com. "They took it as it was: a loud robot that's going to give away their position."

Aside from the noise, testers faced additional challenges, including repairing the device and attempting to integrate it into a Marine patrol unit.

A second, smaller robotic quadruped, dubbed Spot, produced less noise, however the adjustments resulted in a much lower carrying capacity.

The LS3 mule and Spot were the result of a $32 million contract signed between DARPA and Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary of Google, in 2010. An additional $10 million contract followed to support testing with the Marine Corps.

Tern moves closer to full-scale demonstration of VTOL UAVs for small ships

Small-deck ships such as destroyers and frigates could greatly increase their effectiveness if they had their own unmanned air systems (UASs) to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and other capabilities at long range around the clock.

Current state-of-the-art UASs, however, lack the ability to take off and land from confined spaces in rough seas and achieve efficient long-duration flight. Tern, a joint program between DARPA and the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR), seeks to provide these and other previously unattainable capabilities. As part of Tern's ongoing progress toward that goal, DARPA has awarded Phase 3 of Tern to a team led by the Northrop Grumman Corporation.

The first two phases of Tern successfully focused on preliminary design and risk reduction. In Phase 3, DARPA plans to build a full-scale demonstrator system of a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS designed to use forward-deployed small ships as mobile launch and recovery sites.

Initial ground-based testing, if successful, would lead to an at-sea demonstration of takeoff, transition to and from horizontal flight, and landing-all from a test platform with a deck size similar to that of a destroyer or other small surface-combat vessel.

"The design we have in mind for the Tern demonstrator could greatly increase the effectiveness of any host ship by augmenting awareness, reach and connectivity," said Dan Patt, DARPA program manager.

"We continue to make progress toward our goal to develop breakthrough technologies that would enable persistent ISR and strike capabilities almost anywhere in the world at a fraction of current deployment costs, time and effort."

"ONR's and DARPA's partnership on Tern continues to make rapid progress toward creating a new class of unmanned air system combining shipboard takeoff and landing capabilities, enhanced speed and endurance, and sophisticated supervised autonomy," said Gil Graff, deputy program manager for Tern at ONR.

"If successful, Tern could open up exciting future capabilities for Navy small-deck surface combatants and U.S. Marine Corps air expeditionary operations."

"Through Tern, we seek to develop and demonstrate key capabilities for enabling distributed, disaggregated U.S. naval architectures in the future," said Bradford Tousley, director of DARPA's Tactical Technology Office (TTO), which oversees Tern.

"This joint DARPA-Navy effort is yet another example of how the Agency collaborates with intended transition partners to create potentially revolutionary capabilities for national security."

The Tern Phase 3 design envisions a tailsitting, flying-wing aircraft with twin counter-rotating, nose-mounted propellers. The propellers would lift the aircraft from a ship deck, orient it for horizontal flight and provide propulsion to complete a mission.

They would then reorient the craft upon its return and lower it to the ship deck. The system would fit securely inside the ship when not in use.

Tern's potentially groundbreaking capabilities have been on the Navy's wish list in one form or another since World War II. The production of the first practical helicopters in 1942 helped the U.S. military realize the potential value of embedded vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft to protect fleets and reduce the reliance on aircraft carriers and land bases.

The Tern demonstrator will bear some resemblance to the Convair XFY-1 Pogo, an experimental ship-based VTOL fighter designed by the Navy in the 1950s to provide air support for fleets.

Despite numerous successful demonstrations, the XFY-1 never advanced beyond the prototype stage, in part because the Navy at the time was focusing on faster jet aircraft and determined that pilots would have needed too much training to land on moving ships in rough seas.

"Moving to an unmanned platform, refocusing the mission and incorporating modern precision relative navigation and other technologies removes many of the challenges the XFY-1 and other prior efforts faced in developing aircraft based from small ships," Patt said. "Tern is a great example of how new technologies and innovative thinking can bring long-sought capabilities within reach."

DARPA and the Navy have a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to share responsibility for the development and testing of the Tern demonstrator system. The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) has also expressed interest in Tern's potential capabilities and is providing support to the program.

Fresh wave of job losses at dockyard sparks uncertainty over future of the city’s facility

A MOOD of ‘great uncertainty’ has hit Portsmouth’s dockyard after a fresh wave of jobs cuts were revealed.

Defence giant BAE Systems has axed 20 staff from its books while Highbury College has made a number of its engineering lecturers in the facility redundant.

The move has frustrated campaigners opposed to job losses in the complex.

Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, the former council leader and head of the city’s Liberal Democrat party, said this was the latest blow for Portsmouth.

It comes in the wake of prime minister David Cameron’s decision to scrap shipbuilding in the city – with the loss of 1,000 jobs.

‘I’m incredibly disappointed to hear this news,’ said Cllr Vernon-Jackon.

‘The prime minister promised he would bring shipbuilding back to Portsmouth.

‘Well yet again, this is another example of how that promise has been broken.’

Call to visit HMS Natal graves to remember naval disaster

ONE of the UK’s worst naval disasters, which saw more than 420 people killed when a warship was blown up by its own ammunition, is remembered today.

HMS Natal capsized in the Cromarty Firth off the Scottish Highlands 100 years ago after an explosion which occurred during a film show for officers and their visiting families.

During the afternoon of the 30th December 1915, HMS Natal, under the command of Captain Eric Back, blew up at anchor with a great loss of life.

421 crew and civilian visitors died in the explosion, including women and children.  400 of the crew survived.

HMS Natal was a ‘Warrior Class’ cruiser of 13550 tons.  She was launched in 1905 and had an interesting history before the First World War.  In 1914 she joined the Second Cruiser Squadron, which by 1915 was based in the Cromarty Firth, in the north of Scotland.

Britain's new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth sighted in River Forth as £6billion fitting-out of Royal Navy's biggest ever ship continues

Britain's largest warship is still being fitted out at Rosyth Dock in Fife seven years after contracts were first agreed

The vessel's nine-deck hull is taking form with 10,000 shipyard workers and engineers working on the project 

Vessel was first unveiled in July 2014 and floated on the River Forth after Rosyth Dock was filled with water 

The cost of the project has spiraled from £3billion in 2007 to more than an estimated £6billion by completion in 2020

HMS Queen Elizabeth is as tall as Nelson's Column at 230ft, weighs 65,000 tonnes and measures 918ft bow to stern 

Photo of upgrade Leopard 2NG by by Aselsan of Turkey

The Leopard 2 Next Generation (NG) upgrade package for Leopard 2 main battle tanks was developed by Aselsan of Turkey as a private venture.

The vehicle is in fact a Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW)-produced Leopard 2A4 battle tank of the service’s inventory modernized by Turkish state-owned firm Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret.

The upgrade package provides the vehicle with improved fire power, protection and survivability.

The Leopard 2NG modernization package feature the installation of add-on ballistic protection and add-on mine protection modules, fire control system (consisting of sensors, gunner’s periscope, commander’s panoramic sight, situational awareness system, inertial navigation unit, interface, handles and associated electronic units), electrical gun and turret drives, command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence/battlefield management system or C4I/BMS (consisting of command control computer and software, tactical radios, intercom and display units), laser warning system, driver’s sight (front and rear sight units), automatic fire suppression system for the crew compartment, and the company’s SARP (Stabilized Advanced Remote weapon Platform) remote-controlled weapon station of coupled to 12.7mm heavy machine gun (or 40 mm automatic grenade launcher or 7.62mm light machine gun) and ATS-40 electro-optical payload.

The armor protection suite of German firm IBD Deisenroth Engineering consists of heavy track skirts, gun mantlet, turret, front armor protection, armor protection against improvised explosive devices, under belly protection, turret protection, and hull slat armor.

China’s first series-productionChengdu J-20 fighter is getting ready for a first flight

China’s first series-production Chengdu J-20 fighter is getting ready for a first flight.

The initial operational date for the J-20 is estimated at 2018. Now, with this production copy “2101” emerging out of the thick Chinese smog,  perhaps we should revisit the 2018 date.

The Chengdu J-20  is a Stealth, twin-engine, fifth-generation fighter aircraft prototype being developed by China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for the Air Force (PLAAF). The J-20 made its first flight on 11 January 2011.

Since 2008 the PRC has worked to design and manufacture fifth generation concepts, both for its own use and to sell on a global scale. Two companies in China have worked on designs: the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (J-20) and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (J-31). Both are subsidiaries of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

Kuwait to send troops to Saudi for Yemen war

Kuwait has decided to send ground forces to take part in the war on Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels, a local newspaper reported Tuesday.

Al-Qabas daily cited an informed source saying Kuwait’s cabinet has approved sending the troops to Saudi Arabia, which is leading a coalition against the rebels, as soon as early next week.

Kuwait’s participation in the Yemen war has so far been limited to the airforce.

No details were provided about the size of the force.

Since March, Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes against the Huthis and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh after they overran large parts of Yemen.

Russia to start promoting Uran-9 combat robotic system

In 2016 Rosoboronexport (part of the Rostec State Corporation) will begin to promote the Uran-9 combat multipurpose robotic system in the international market.

The Uran-9 is designed to provide remote reconnaissance and fire support to combined arms, recon and counter-terror units. It consists of two recon and fire support robots, a tractor for their transportation and a mobile control post.

The armament of the recon and fire support robots includes the 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon, a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and Ataka ATGMs. The armament mix may vary depending on customer requirements.

The robots are fitted with a laser warning system and target detection, identification and tracking equipment.

The Uran-9 will be particularly useful during local military and counter-terror operations, including those in cities. Its use will significantly reduce personnel casualties.

“Russian developers possess all of the required competencies to create modern military robotics that will be in demand on the international market. This is a fast-growing segment of the arms market, so Rosoboronexport will develop and implement a long-term marketing strategy for promoting such pieces of hardware, including as part of integrated security projects,” said Boris Simakin who heads the Analysis and Long-Term Planning Department at Rosoboronexport.

From hammocks to bunk beds, letters to e-mails, one Royal Navy sailor compares Christmas at sea 100 years apart

Sailors on board HMS St Albans will be away from their loved ones this Christmas but fortunately for them it will be a much more comfortable experience than it was for their forebears.

Next year marks 100 years since the Battle of Jutland, one of the most significant naval engagements of the First World War, and the anniversary is being marked with a major commemorative event in May.

Living conditions and the nature of operations have come a long way since the First World War. During the Battle of Jutland alone there were more than 100,000 sailors involved on 250 ships. More than 6,000 Royal Navy and 2,500 German sailors lost their lives.

As Christmas approaches, Chief Petty Officer Clinton Hume takes a look at what life is like for him on board HMS St Albans, and how the coming festivities will be vastly different to those of 100 years ago.

Clinton and the rest of his shipmates will be hard at work over the holidays securing the seas in the Middle East. In her short time at sea so far, HMS St Albans has already made a drugs bust in the Mediterranean. Clinton said:

When it comes to life on board a ship, matelots (sailors) will always tell you that life is tough! But I’m sure it was a lot harder 100 years ago. It’s likely sailors would still have had hammocks that they’d have to pack away for action

Although conditions are still quite cramped today, I have my own rack (bunk bed) in a shared cabin, a locker and a cupboard to keep my kit in. I can even have my own duvet cover if I want!

The main difference between life on board ship today versus 100 years ago is that everything is a lot more sophisticated. I’m a Stoker (Marine Engineer Artificer) so I work in the engine rooms. Thankfully, the transition from coal to oil had already been made before the First World War, so people in my trade wouldn’t have had to literally stoke the engines, but I’m sure the engines would still have needed a lot of coaxing!

Another difference is messages were sent mechanically from the bridge to the engine room. Today that happens electronically and we have computers that monitor the various systems around the ship from the Ship’s Control Centre. Most compartments also now have telephones and main broadcast speakers to communicate through. I expect 100 years ago they would have had to rely on speaking tubes.

They would also have been at sea for a lot longer than we are. We are currently at the start of a nine-month deployment, which isn’t an easy prospect, but they could have been away from home for a couple of years at least. With email and welfare telephone calls we can contact home almost instantly – most of the time. A century ago they would have had to rely on letters that could have taken months to arrive, so that’s a considerable improvement.

When it comes to Christmas I read somewhere that it was quite regulated 100 years ago. There would have been a compulsory church service in the morning and then the Captain and officers would go round each mess deck, sitting at each dining table to sample the food.

I’m pleased to say our Christmas at sea will be much less formal. As we’ll have a Chaplain on board for Christmas there will still be a service in the morning that I’ll be going to, but attendance is voluntary now. Then when it comes to lunch, the tradition these days is for the Captain and officers to act as stewards and serve Christmas lunch to the Ship’s Company.

Everyone will be wearing party hats and Christmas jumpers, so it should be a good laugh. We’ve all decorated our messes (living spaces) with Christmas lights and tinsel, so it will feel quite homely even though we will be so far from home.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has announced a major uplift to UK support to the Nigerian armed forces to help combat Boko Haram.

The new commitment, announced during a visit to see President Buhari and senior government officials, includes:

• An intention to more than double the number of British personnel deployed on training tasks in Nigeria in the coming year, with up to 300 expected to provide support during 2016.
• The deployment of a specialist team to provide assistance in countering improvised explosive devices, as well as medical training and advice;
• A new RAF training team to improve the knowledge and skills of the Nigerian Air Force in airfield defence and counter insurgency.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

Boko Haram is a brutal organisation that has murdered and kidnapped innocent civilians. We stand united with Nigeria in its efforts to defeat them.

Stepping up our training efforts will help support the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) for crucial counter-insurgency operations.

During his visit, Mr Fallon discussed Nigeria’s security challenges and the status of the bilateral UK-Nigeria Defence relationship with President Buhari and Defence Minister Dan Ali.

The deployment of the new teams and expanding package of UK assistance builds on the programme of Short Term Training Teams (STTT), many from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment, providing assist to our Nigerian partners throughout 2015.

Overall, around 130 UK military personnel deployed to Nigeria on a wide range of training tasks in 2015. These have included, training in infantry skills, civil-military affairs, media operations, command and leadership, IED-awareness, and support to Nigerian military training schools and establishments.

Almost one thousand Nigerian military personnel benefited from training to prepare them for counter-insurgency operations in north east Nigeria.

The training uplift announced by Mr Fallon supports work already carried out by the UK’s resident British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT). BMATT has also grown in size since the government announced last year that the UK would increase its training and capacity building in Nigeria.

Together with our continued support to a Nigerian intelligence and analysis cell focussed on the north east and based in Abuja, almost 30 UK military personnel are now deployed in Nigeria on an enduring basis in training and advisory roles.

US carrier strike group joins France in combined combat ops against Islamic State

US Navy (USN) aircraft operating from a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf conducted their initial missions against the Islamic State, officials announced on 29 December.

Strike aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 7, embarked on USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75), joined their counterparts operating from France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier FSCharles de Gaulle (R 91) in combined combat operations in Iraq and Syria.

Charles de Galle is serving as the flagship for Combined Task Force (CTF) 50 and is leading carrier-based naval strike operations for Operation 'Inherent Resolve' - the fight against Islamic State fighters.

Harry S Truman transited the Gulf of Oman on 25 December to join the CTF in the Gulf. It deployed from its home port of Norfolk, Virginia, on 16 November.

Its strike group consists of Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USSGonzalez (DDG 66), USS Ramage (DDG 61), and USS Gravely (DDG 107).

Poland will start the modernization of its Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks in 2018

The Polish Defense Ministry signed a contract to modernise 128 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks used by the Polish army. Poland’s original set of 128 Leopard 2A4 tanks were bought and transferred in the mid-2000s. Poland also purchased a total of 105 Leopard 2A5. 

DARPA & Northrop Grumman to Develop VTOL UAS for Small US Navy Ships

Small-deck ships such as destroyers and frigates could greatly increase their effectiveness if they had their own unmanned air systems (UASs) to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and other capabilities at long range around the clock. Current state-of-the-art UASs, however, lack the ability to take off and land from confined spaces in rough seas and achieve efficient long-duration flight. Tern, a joint program between DARPA and the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR), seeks to provide these and other previously unattainable capabilities. As part of Tern’s ongoing progress toward that goal, DARPA has awarded Phase 3 of Tern to a team led by the Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Indian Navy Successfully Test Fires LRSAM/Barak-8 Air & Missile Defense System from INS Kolkata

The Indian Navy achieved a significant milestone in enhancing its Anti Air Warfare capability with the maiden firing of its newly developed Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR SAM). The firing was undertaken on 29 and 30th Dec 15 on the Western Seaboard by INS Kolkata, wherein the missile successesfully intercepted an Aerial Target at extended ranges. 

Ukraine to allocate $4 billion for defense budget next year including new air defense systems

The 2016 Ukrainian defense budget allocates the equivalent of just over USD 4 billion to the entire defence and security sector next year. Next year Ukrainian government plans to purchase advanced radar systems, surveillance drones and ground-to-air defence systems to strengthen security in the skies. 

Russia's "Admiralty Shipyards" to Deliver 7 Submarines to Domestic & Foreign Customers by 2018

The Admiralty Wharves Shipyard (JSC "Admiralty Shipyards"), part of Russia’s United Ship-Building Corporation (OSK), is planning to deliver seven submarines and an icebreaker to Russian and foreign customers by 2018, Shipyard CEO Alexander Buzakov told TASS on Wednesday. 

Boeing P8 Poseidon Ordered for UK Military

To aid surveillance, nine new Boeing P8 maritime patrol aircraft will be deployed, capable of anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare. These will be intended to protect Trident and the new BAE-build aircraft carriers, replacing the decommissioned, torpedo-carrying Nimrod aircraft that left a significant hole in the UK military's ability to spot submarines.

Britain could be dragged back in to an “unwinnable war”

Britain could be dragged back in to an “unwinnable war” in Afghanistan, the families of veterans have warned, as new evidence suggested the SAS are fighting there.
Britain could be dragged back in to an “unwinnable war” in Afghanistan, the families of veterans have warned, as new evidence suggested the SAS are fighting there.

A senior Nato officer said UK troops were helping their Afghan counterparts at a tactical level but he insisted that it was the Afghan army who were doing the fighting.

US General Wilson Shoffner said: “In Helmand the British contribution is part of a larger Nato expeditionary advisory effort.

US plans to sell warships to Taiwan

The US State Department informed Congress on  of a proposed sale of two warships to Taiwan as part of a $1.8 billion arms deal already angrily denounced by China.

The massive contract comes at a time of reconciliation between China and Taiwan — separated since 1949 — but also of worries by Washington that Beijing is “militarizing” part of the South China Sea.

David McKeeby, a State Department spokesman, said the $1.83 billion “defensive arms sale package” included two Perry-class Frigates, Javelin anti-tank missiles, TOW 2B anti-tank missiles, AAV-7 Amphibious Assault Vehicles and a range of other military equipment.

The US Congress has 30 days to raise any objections to the sale, otherwise it is considered approved.

Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway territory, said Tuesday it “firmly opposes sales of weapons, military hardware or technology to Taiwan by any country in any form or under any pretext.”

“China strongly urges the US side to seriously realize the high sensitivity and severe harmfulness of arms sales to Taiwan, live up to its commitments and stop arms sales to Taiwan,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

Relations between Beijing and Taipei have warmed under current Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang party. But China refuses to renounce the use of force should it declare formal independence.

China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949.

The United States recognizes China rather than Taiwan, but remains a main ally and leading arms supplier to the island, providing a source of continued tension with Beijing.

Lengthy US support for TaiwanThe US-Taiwan Business Council welcomed the news, but questioned why it had been more than four years since the last sale, and said the items were insufficient to meet an evolving threat from China.

“While China has deployed new fighters, submarines, and missiles during the last four years, the US has consistently refused to consider providing Taiwan access to similar platforms, or even aiding their indigenous development,” the group’s president Rupert Hammond-Chambers said in a statement.

McKeeby said the sale was in keeping with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which commits the United States to providing sufficient weapons to maintain Taiwan’s ability to defend itself.

He added that there was no change in the United States’ longstanding “one China” policy.

Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis echoed the remarks, saying the sale was consistent with long-held policy.

“This is something we’ve done through successive administrations and we’ve had an unending support for Taiwan being able to maintain its defensive capability,” Davis said.

Republican Senator John McCain also praised the proposed sale.

“This decision is consistent with both the legal requirements of the Taiwan Relations Act and our national interest in helping the democratic government in Taipei preserve stability across the Taiwan Strait,” he said.

Washington angered Beijing in October when a US warship sailed close to artificial islets that China is building out into military bases in the South China Sea.

Washington has said China’s transformation of the geographical features in the Spratly Islands poses a threat to freedom of navigation in the critical area.