Our historic warplanes can stay in the skies, tests confirm

The iconic Second World War aircraft of RAF Coningsby's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight WILL reach for the skies in the coming season after it won official permission to display.

The flight, which boasts Spitfires, Hurricanes and the second-only airworthy Lancaster in the world, has been awarded public display authority for 2016 after an inspection today, April 27.

The BBMF has around 90 display and flypast dates from May to September this year including the Queen's birthday in June, airshows in Belgium and Holland and the Royal International Air Tattoo.

This year the displays include a commentary, while fighter planes will begin their dazzling shows by performing a new breath-taking vertical loop manoeuvre.

But a question remains over whether the Lancaster will meet some of its early display dates due to work on its fuel tanks

The original Thumper III, 617 Squadron Lancaster B1, DV385, was one of a fleet of new Lancasters supplied to the squadron after the Dams Raid in 1943.

It took part in the first Tallboy bombing raid on the Saumur railway tunnel in France, two missions against the German battleship Tirpitz and several attacks on V rocket sites.

RAF unleashes biggest 'bunker buster' bomb in fight against Isis

The Enhanced Paveway III (EPW III) with a 2,000lb deep penetration warhead was deployed to attack a large complex of tunnels and bunkers dug into a terraced hillside above the Euphrates River in western Iraq.

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The MoD said RAF Tornado GR4 fighter bombers based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus had scored hits with a pair of EPW IIIs on two entrances to the bunker networks.

RAF aircraft involved in the campaign normally carry the smaller Paveway IV guided bombs and Brimstone missiles which can be carried in greater numbers and are considered more useful for close air support missions.

"The EPW III has been held in reserve for use if needed against particularly challenging underground or hardened targets," the MoD said in a statement posted on its website.

The EPW III was designed for use against aircraft shelters, bridges and military command centres in all weather conditions, according to HIS Jane's information group.

It was developed in response to the experience of the 1999 Kosovo campaign when the guided bombs in use at the time were severely hampered by bad weather and by smoke around targets.

RAF Lossiemouth Typhoons deployed to send message to Russia

Fighter jets from RAF Lossiemouth have been deployed to drive Russian aircraft from Nato airspace above the Baltic States.

Four Typhoons took off from the Moray station yesterday and headed for the Amari airfield in Estonia, amid reports that Russian jets had been increasingly threatening northern Europe.

The jets are expected to remain on the peacekeeping mission for the next four months, and will be called upon to intercept the Russian aircraft and escort them from the area.

The four Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth’s II(AC) Squadron began departing from the base around 9am yesterday.

Finmeccanica integrated Mode 5 Reverse-IFF to the Italian Typhoons

Finmeccanica has upgraded the Italian Typhoons’ air-to-ground capabilities. In cooperation with the Italian Air Force the company integrated a Mode 5 Reverse-IFF system to the Tranche 1 Eurofighter Typhoons. The new capabilities were recently presented to NATO Battlefield Combat Identification Capability Team officials. 

Russian shipyard in Volga area floats out third Gepard-3.9-class frigate for Vietnam

The third Project 11661 Gepard-3.9-class frigate designed for the Vietnamese Navy has been solemnly put afloat at the Zelenodolsk Shipyard in Tatarstan in the Volga area, a TASS correspondent reports from the scene. 

US clears sale of 450 AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles to Australia

The United States State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles and associated equipment, training, and support. The estimated cost is $1.22 billion, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on April 25.

 

US clears sale of 450 AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles to Australia

The United States State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles and associated equipment, training, and support. The estimated cost is $1.22 billion, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on April 25. 

Russian-made 152 mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzers to use Krasnopol guided projectile in Syria

Russian-made 152-mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzers were first spotted in Syria in late October of last year. According to expert opinion, the type proved to be a real asset during the armed conflict, according to the Vestnik Mordovii news portal.

David Cameron challenged over Clyde shipyard job fears

Nicola Sturgeon has challenged the Prime Minister after trade unions warned up to 800 shipyard jobs on the Clyde could be axed by BAE Systems.

The GMB said on Friday that unions have been warned of a "worst case scenario" of up to 800 job losses in the Clyde workforce if the UK government does not honour contracts to build frigates with the defence giant.

Unions have expressed fears that new work to build type-26 frigates for the Ministry of Defence, announced in February 2015, might now be delayed until 2017 - and that some of the work may even be transferred to other shipyards.

GMB Scotland secretary Gary Smith said: "This would be a total betrayal of the upper Clyde workforce by a desperate Tory government trying to shift the goal posts in the face of their failing economic stewardship.

"We've gone from the upper Clyde workforce being promised the manufacture of 13 Type-26 frigates in 2014, for that to be cut to eight frigates last year.

"We've gone from promised investment that would secure thousands of skilled jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships for a generation, only to be told to prepare for redundancies.

"In the same week that Scottish unemployment increased by 20,000, the prospect of significant job losses at Govan and Scotstoun doesn't even bear thinking about - it could tip our economy over the edge."

A spokesman for BAE Systems said they were working with the UK government to "agree a revised baseline" for the frigates.

The First Minister demanded that David Cameron deliver on his government's promises.

Sturgeon said: "Workers at the Clyde yards were given a clear promise by the Tory government and the Labour party that they would build the frigates and that their jobs would be protected.

"First the Tories cut the number of frigates; now we hear that they may delay or move the orders putting jobs at risk."

She added: "David Cameron must commit to delivering these contracts, and ensuring jobs are protected at BAE on the Clyde. Workers in the shipyards should be treated with respect for their skills and experience, not betrayed with empty promises.

"It would be an absolute betrayal if David Cameron was to go back on his promise now, and shows the folly of the Labour party for signing up to Tory promises.

"The SNP in government has worked closely with BAE and the trade unions to support the yard and we will give them our full support over the coming months to ensure that the promises that were made are delivered."

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale called out the Conservative government for "false promises".

Dugdale said: "It is completely unacceptable that workers on the Clyde are reading these reports in newspapers before they have been informed.

"If these reports are correct, workers on the Clyde will have been betrayed by a Tory government making false promises.

"Shipyard unions will have the full support of Scottish Labour in protecting these jobs.

"Clydeside shipbuilders are the best in the world and investment in the yards so that facilities match the skills of the workforce is essential to allow them to win future contracts."

The Labour leader added: "It is essential that the Type 26 project goes ahead as planned and as promised. Promises were made to workers on the Clyde, they must be kept."

Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said she had been assured the orders would go ahead as planned, as set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).

Davidson said: "I spoke to the Secretary of State for Defence this morning to seek reassurances regarding orders to BAE systems on the Clyde.

"Michael Fallon confirmed that the orders for the Type 26 frigates and OPVs [Offshore Patrol Vessels] would go ahead as planned and as set out in the SDSR in November.

"It is important to monitor workforce issues at BAE between the winding down of work on the aircraft carriers and starting work on the Type 26 programme and I expect everyone - BAE, unions and government - to endeavour to make the transition between projects as smooth as possible and give the workforce the security they deserve."

The Lib Dems said the Clyde workforce needed assurances from the Prime Minister.

Party leader Willie Rennie said: "There are serious concerns about the future of the orders at the yard and it's important that the Conservative government gives an absolute commitment.

"They need to end the feast and famine of orders so the workforce can be maintained at a steady level."

3,400 Nato troops leave Moray as Joint Warrior concludes

A major military training exercise hosted by RAF Lossiemouth has drawn to a close, with fleets of international aircraft jetting off from the base throughout yesterday.

Operation Joint Warrior brought some of the world’s most advanced fighter jets into the skies above Moray, where they staged a series of spectacular aerial training sessions.

More than 3,400 Nato troops took part in the land, sea and air war games event – including 22 ships, four submarines and more than 40 aircraft from a dozen Nato nations and three partner countries.

For the past two weeks the region has been buzzing with excitement about the event, with enthusiasts flocking from far and wide to glimpse the awe-inspiring machines in person.

But by yesterday afternoon, a hush had descended on the base as normality began to reassert itself.

One onlooker, who made several trips to the viewing area at the northern edge of the RAF Lossiemouth runway, hailed the success of the event.

The former RAF serviceman said that a fleet of Turkish F-16 jets had been the main attraction for a lot of the aviation enthusiasts who visited the area for the event.

He added: “The Turkish jets flew on missions twice almost every day, and were involved with some important training sessions.”

A German crew which had been participating in the war games exercise was unexpectedly called away shortly after it begun, and many experts believe they were summoned to assist with international operations.

A fleet of Poseidon aircraft attached to Patrol Squadron 10 at the “Red Lancers” Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, proved of special interest to observers and Lossiemouth personnel – as the airfield will secure its own brand new deployment of the craft in the coming years.

The hulking spy planes were stationed at the northern end of the runway throughout the exercise, and it is understood that RAF chiefs plan to keep the station’s new fleet in that area.

RAF experts who have maintained their surveillance skills since the UK’s fleet of maritime patrol aircraft was decommissioned in 2010 spent time conferring with the American pilots and learning more about the machines.

It is believed that they will train the crews who will work with the machines when they take up a permanent residence at RAF Lossiemouth.

BAE Systems signed a MOU with the Malaysian company Airod at DSA 2016

On April 20th, AIROD signed an Memorandum Of Understanding with BAE Systems for the covering upgrade of avionic systems on the RMAF Hawk aircraft at DSA 2016. 

Lockheed Martin lands a $116mn contract from USAF for JASSM-ER missiles production

Lockheed Martin received a $116.8 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for continued production of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER), the US-based defense giant announced Thursday April 21, 2016. 

UK, US and France Recognize Militaries' Cultural Differences

PARIS — An open dialogue about cultural and technological differences among allies is key to having effective command and control, a British Royal Air Force (RAF) officer has said.

Air Vice Marshal Paul Atherton said he came to this conclusion during Griffin Strike, a large Anglo-French exercise held in Britain.

“Awareness is key and dialogue is the tool to fix it,” he said April 21 at a conference about the future of air forces, organized by France. The high-level conference, Air Forces in 2030: Trends and Possible Shocks, followed two days of meetings held by staff officers from the American, British and French air forces partnered in the trilateral strategic initiative.

There was a need to cut red tape and understand cultural and technology differences, and the British and French acquisition of the A400M airlifter opened opportunities for cooperation, according to Atherton, who is the RAF chief of staff operations.

Griffin Strike showed the British practice of giving verbal orders, while other nations, such as France, relied on written orders, he said. “The written order is entirely valid but it is important to understand the cultural difference,” he said.

“That came out loud and clear on Tuesday afternoon when there a little degree of confusion over exactly who was going to do what,” he said. “C2 is absolutely vital.”

In the Griffin Strike exercise, an officer in a “C2 land node” talked to a commander in the navy component, Atherton said. That required some six different nodes, four firewalls and three satellites for the land commander to talk to the navy commander, who was just some 75 miles off the coast of Cornwall, southwest Britain.

Those handling procurement “in the capability world” need to factor in the US, French and NATO forces, with whom the British use secure communications, he said. “All too often we miss that right at the outset.”

Griffen Strike consists of an April 10-23 exercise in Britain, with 5,500 personnel, of which some 2,000 are from the French Air Force, Army and Navy. Some 20 aircraft and 10 ships are committed, including the French Dixmude helicopter carrier.

The need to slash bureaucracy could be seen in British and French air-to-air refueling, a key “force multiplier,” Atherton said.

UK and France both will fly their fleets of Airbus A330 tanker aircraft. The French Air Force will clear Mirage and Rafale fighters to refuel off their tanker jets, but “why can’t they read that across to the UK?” he said.

“That would avoid a test, trials, clearance process that would take weeks if not months," he said. "There has got to be a better way of doing this.”

Bureaucracy hits other areas such as RAF arming the F-35 joint strike fighter with the Paveway 4 bomb, he said. That will take six to eight months of a trials process rather than an approval based on clearance for the US F-35.

“We’ve got to get smarter doing this,” he said.

The Italian Navy is co-hosting what could be described as a secondhand ship show in Italy next month as it retires dozens of seasoned vessels and brings new ships into service.

Officials from 11 navies around the world are due to attend the event at the Navy’s La Spezia base May 24-27 to scout for bargains among various classes of vessel, which Italy is hoping to make some much needed money by selling.

Also present at the event will be Italian companies offering their services for refits and upgrades to give the vessels a technological makeover.

The Seafuture & Maritime Technologies 2016 event has been running for five years, but this is the first time the Navy has stepped in as an official partner, according to the organizer.

“Up until now the Navy has negotiated the sale of its vessels on a one-to-one basis, so this is a new approach,” said Laura Parducci, an official with the local chamber of commerce, which organizes the event. “People coming will be able to sign deals there and then."

The Navy’s decision to put its ships in the shop window at La Spezia is due to the large number it is phasing out. After investing heavily in fleet renewal in the 1970s, a number of the vessels bought at the time are now due for retirement.

Government reserves the right to take military action without parliamentary approval

One of the more significant constitutional innovations of recent times is the assumption that the government must get parliament’s permission before committing British forces to military action. This precedent, set with the 2003 Iraq vote, has been upheld by this government; it famously resulted in Britain not bombing Syria in 2013 following the use of chemical weapons in the civil war.

There had been pressure on the government to formalise this new constitutional convention, to legislate that the government needs parliament’s permission before military action can be taken. But in a written ministerial statement today, the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon rejects that option. He makes clear that while the government will continue to consult parliament before action is taken, it wishes to reserve the freedom to act without prior approval in extraordinary circumstances. This strikes me as sensible. There are occasions on which the pre-emptive use of force would be justified; and that is, obviously, not compatible with a parliamentary vote.

Britain, France, Italy seek bolder EU naval mission in Libya

Britain, France and Italy urged their European partners on Monday to move the EU's Mediterranean naval mission into Libyan waters, if requested by a new government in Tripoli, to stop a new tide of migrants and uphold a U.N. arms embargo.

An expanded naval mission would be part of the EU's emerging support plan for Libya, which EU foreign and defence ministers discussed over dinner in Luxembourg, and could see Europe return to the country with 100 million euros ($113 million) in aid.

The mission could also work with the U.S.-led NATO alliance to build up a Libyan coastguard capable of stopping traffickers, but the European Union says it cannot act until the United Nations-backed Libyan government invites it to do so.

"It is indispensable to ensure Libya's stability, the security of Libyans and also its borders," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, after a weekend visit to Tripoli.

"We must do all we can to fight against the human smugglers and arms trafficking," he told reporters, referring to the United Nations arms embargo on Libya, in place since 2011

UK Government not considering sending ground troops to Libya at the moment, MPs told

The UK Government is not currently contemplating sending ground troops to Libya but a future decision to do so might not need the approval of MPs, Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, has said.

During Commons question-time, the minister said it was "too early" to say what kind of assistance Libya would be seeking in its fight against so-called Islamic State militants also known as Daesh.

Earlier today, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond visited Libya to show support for the country's new UN-backed government of national accord, meeting prime minister-designate Fayez Serraj.

Russian armed forces expect to see first new S-500 air defense missile system in the near future

Russia’s Aerospace Force expects to see the first S-500 air defense missile systems in the imminent future, Air Defense Chief and Aerospace Force Deputy Commander-in-Chief Viktor Gumyonny said on Friday, April 15, 2016. "We expect to see the first S-500 air defense missile systems in the imminent future," Gumyonny said in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV channel.

Iran displays some components of the Russian S-300 air defense missile during a military parade

Iran on Sunday, April 17, 2016, displayed components of the Russian-made S-300 air defense missile system in a military parade in Tehran, held to mark the National Army Day. The Iranian news agencies released photos showing components of S-300 missile defense system delivered to Iran last week.

Iraq reportedly received three more Su-25 Frogfoot combat aircraft

According to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the Iraqi defense ministry took delivery of three Russian-made Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot fighter jets and other military equipment. This delivery was announced on Sunday April 17 by the defense ministry's spokesman Nasseer Nouri. 

Two Russian pilots killed in helicopter crash over rebel territory in Syria

Two Russian pilots have died in a helicopter crash over rebel territory in Syria.

A spokesperson for Russia’s ministry of defence said the Mi-28N attack helicopter came down in Homs province in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“The bodies of the dead pilots were removed during search and rescue operations and are currently at the Hmeymim Airbase,” he added.

UK and France launch rapid deployment exercise Grifin Strike

A joint force between the UK and France will face its biggest development test to date as the two countries come together for an exercise. More than 5,000 personnel from the UK and France will take part in Exercise Griffin Strike, which will test the Combined UK and French Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF).

Vympel Shipyard in Central Russia to Complete, Upgrade 2 Unfinished Molniya-class Missile Boats

The Vympel Shipyard in Rybinsk in central Russia will complete, repair and upgrade two Project 12418 Molniya-class missile boats for the Russian Navy, the shipyard’s press office said on Friday. "The Vympel Shipyard has signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry to upgrade and repair two Project 12418 Molniya-class missile boats,"the press office said. 

Russian Large Amphibious Assault Ship Ivan Gren to Start Shipbuilders Sea Trials in Late April

The Project 11711 large amphibious assault ship Ivan Gren being built at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad in west Russia for the Navy will start undergoing shipbuilders sea trials in late April, shipyard chief shipbuilder Igor Leonov said on Monday.

Pratt & Whitney gets a $1bn contract from US military for additional F135 engines

The US military ordered more than $1 billion worth of new jet engines for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. "Pratt & Whitney Military Engines is being awarded a $1,038,074,689 modification to the previously awarded advance acquisition contract for the Lot IX low-rate initial production F-35 Lightning II Propulsion contract for the Air Force, Navy/Marine Corps, international partners and foreign military sales (FMS) customers," the US DoD said on April 11. 

Russian Helicopters fulfills first contract with the Mexican Secretariat of the Navy

Russian Helicopters, part of State Corporation Rostec, has fulfilled its first contract for after-sale maintenance of multirole Mi-17-1V helicopters operated by the Mexican Navy.“This is our first contract with the Naval Secretariat of Mexico. It was fulfilled in full and on time,” said Igor Chechikov, Russian Helicopter's deputy CEO. “Mexico is one of our key partners in Latin America; it has quite an extensive fleet of Russian-made helicopters. In 2016, we will expand cooperation with our Mexican partners in terms of after-sale service. The parties are already involved in negotiations on these issues.” 

Russian Armed Forces have deployed 72 Iskander-M tactical missile systems

Russian Armed Forces have deployed 72 9K720 Iskander-M (NATO reporting name: SS-26 Stone) tactical surface-to-surface mobile missile systems, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies` (IISS) report.

UK and French forces exercise in Solent

The Royal Navy’s Fleet Flagship HMS Bulwark can be viewed across the Solent for the next two days as she begins Exercise Griffin Strike.

The amphibious assault ship is working alongside HMS Ocean, HMS Sutherland and also her French counterparts including the including the assault helicopter carrier FS Dixmude.

The aim of Ex Griffin Strike is to test the working partnership between the two countries and test the Ango-French Combined Joint Expeditionary Force”, or CJEF. The exercise will show how UK and French maritime, land and air forces can be deployed rapidly together for a wide range of bilateral operations and, if called upon, work together as part of a NATO, EU or UN coalition operation. 

Visitors to Browndown Beach in Gosport will witness Royal Marines storming the beach as they attack via sea and air, working with helicopters and aircraft from all three Armed Forces. Once ashore they will then link up with a considerable number of UK and French land forces as they continue the exercise on land.

Boeing wins a $922mn US Army contract for 117 AH-64E Guardian helicopters

The US Army has awarded Boeing for of AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters production, the United States Department of Defense announced. "Boeing Company, Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $922.6 million… contract for 117 AH-64E remanufactured Apache helicopters," the announcement stated on Thursday. 

BAE Systems to build new F-35 engineering and training facilities at RAF Marham

BAE Systems has been awarded a US$165 million contract to build engineering and training facilities at RAF Marham in Norfolk, in readiness for the arrival of the UK's first F-35 Lightning II aircraft in 2018. The contract award coincides with the early completion of the tenth aft fuselage for the UK aircraft at BAE Systems' manufacturing site in Samlesbury, Lancashire. 

Pictures: German Navy’s First F125 Frigate Baden-Württemberg Begins Sea Trials

German Navy’s (Deutsche Marine) first F125 frigate has begun sea trials on 6 April. The “Baden-Württemberg” has sailed from the shipyard in Hamburg to Cuxhaven. With a crew of 60 men and women, the vessel will assume a series of tests for the systems, subsystems and weapons of the platform.

Russian Aerospace Forces have received 168 launcher units of S-400 air defense missile system.

Russian Aerospace Forces (AF) have received 168 launcher units of S-400 (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) air defense system (ADS) developed by the Almaz-Antey Concern, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies` (IISS) report.

New 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer ready for export after delivery to Russian army

The 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer (SPH) will have high exportability after it has been fielded with the Russian Army en masse, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov has told journalists in a briefing. The 2S35 was unveiled for the first time to the public during the Victory Day military parade on May 9, 2015. 

India opened talks with U.S. for the purchase of Avenger drones

According to Reuters, India expressed interest in purchasing a first batch of 40 US-made Predator C "Avanger" unmanned aerial vehicles. The Indian Navy could purchase the unarmed Predator XP for ISR missions, while the Indian Air Force shown interest for the armed Predator C, said officials. 

US Navy Awards GD Bath Iron Works $644 Million for Construction of Flight III DDG 51 Class Destroyer

The U.S. Navy has awarded funding for the planning and construction of DDG 124, the Fiscal Year 2016 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer under contract at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The $644.3 million contract modification fully funds this ship, which was awarded as part of a multi-year competition for DDG 51 class destroyers awarded in 2013. The total value of the five-ship contract is approximately $3.4 billion. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is a business unit of General Dynamics.

Britain's new military centre to fight cyber attacks will be in....Corsham

he north Wiltshire town of Corsham will be the UK's hub to tackle global cyber crime, the Ministry of Defence has indicated.

A new Cyber Security Operations Centre, or CSOC, will be staffed by experts who will utilise defensive cyber capabilities to protect the MoD's cyberspace from malicious hackers, defence minister Michael Fallon has announced.

Corsham, with its vast former Cold War 'underground city', is already the centre of the British military's secret communications centre. But the MoD needs to ramp up its resources in defending the nation – and the Government in particular – from hackers.

RAF Lossiemouth set for training spectacular

A fleet of jets from around the world will zoom into RAF Lossiemouth later this month for a series of spectacular training sessions.

Aircraft from Canada, America, Germany and Turkey will be stationed at the Moray base from Monday, April 11, to Friday, April 22 during Exercise Joint Warrior.

Alongside 60 jets, more than 30 warships and submarines will patrol the extensive northern shoreline during the operation.

The airfield is making plans to house a new fleet of Boeing P8 Poseidon surveillance planes in the coming years, and local enthusiasts will be able to get an early glimpse of the impressive machines when a deployment touches down to take part in the exercise.

The British Defence budget will increase by nearly £5bn to £39.7bn in 2020 - 2021.

In last summer’s Budget the British government committed to increase defence spending by 0.5% above inflation every year until 2021 and continue to meet NATO’s target to spend 2% of GDP on defence for the rest of the decade.

Russia' Third Project 11356 Frigate Admiral Makarov Started Dock Trials

The Project 11356 frigate Admiral Makarov built at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad in west Russia started undergoing dock trials on March 31, shipyard spokesman Sergei Mikhailov told TASS on Friday. The Project 11356 frigate Admiral Makarov is the third vessel in the series being built for the Russian Navy by the Yantar Shipyard, the spokesman added. 

HMS Artful joins the Navy

HMS Artful recently became a commissioned warship of the Royal Navy in a ceremony held at HM Naval Base Clyde. The guest of honour at the ceremony was Amanda Zambellas, who named the Astute-class submarine in September 2013. 

Her husband Admiral Sir George Zambellas, the First Sea Lord and head of the Naval Service, said: “This is a ‘red letter day’ that marks the beginning of the next crucial stage of development for the Royal Navy and its Submarine Service.” 

Since being handed over to the Royal Navy by BAE Systems Submarines last December, Artful has been conducting trials to prove her systems and equipment at sea. The highlight was firing six heavyweight Spearfish torpedoes at the British Underwater Testing and Evaluation Centre, near the Isle of Skye. 

Artful’s two sister boats, Astute and Ambush, have travelled to the Mediterranean and the Middle East, where they have been involved in anti-smuggling and security operations and have provided Tomahawk Land Attack Missile capability in support of anti-terrorism operations.

Falkland Islands left with no Royal Navy warship protection for first time since 1982 conflict

The Falkland Islands have been left without the protection of a British frigate or destroyer for the first time since the conflict in 1982, The Independent can reveal.

The Royal Navy has been committed to providing a “permanent presence” of a major warship in the South Atlantic since a naval taskforce liberated the Falkland Islands from Argentinian occupation 34 years ago.

However a manpower crisis, a need to deploy vessels to monitor Russian naval movements closer to home and a string of engine problems with the Royal Navy’s much-vaunted Type 45 destroyers has meant that no warship has been dispatched to the South Atlantic since a frigate returned from the region in November 2015.

Emily Thornberry, the shadow Defence Secretary, labelled the situation as “unacceptable” and demanded that the Ministry of Defence “immediately” dispatch a warship to the region.

She said: “In one area after another we have seen the impact of the savage cuts made to our armed forces since David Cameron came to office, but even by those low standards, it is unacceptable that the government is failing to provide the protection for the Falkland Islands that has been promised, and that that Islands have a right to expect as British citizens. The Ministry of Defence must rectify the situation immediately.”

The row over the Royal Navy’s role in South Atlantic also risked embarrassing the Prime Minster as it comes days after he was forced to dismiss Argentinian claims to water surrounding the Falkland Islands. 

On Tuesday David Cameron vowed to defend the islander’s rights after a United Nations commission recommend that Argentina’s maritime territory should be expanded by 35 per cent to surround the islands.

Ministers also face further embarrassment as it has also emerged that a manpower shortage and technical problems with the Royal Navy’s latest advanced destroyers has forced naval commanders to confine several warship to port. The Independent can reveal that these include Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless, which has been relegated to serving as a training ship, and the frigate HMS Lancaster both of which are docked in Portsmouth.