THE-MOD

The Ministry of Defence Announcements

The previous page was: "Super Submarines"

The M.O.D. plans to re-prioritise spending to help achieve success in Afghanistan – the top military priority. Like all Government departments, the MoD is facing challenging financial pressures. At the same time, our forces on operations remain the top priority and the department is committed to ensuring that our personnel in Afghanistan have the resources they need both now and in the future.

The MoD has therefore announced a £900M package of enhancements for operations in Afghanistan.

This package will be delivered from the core defence budget and the enhancements will improve troops’ safety and operational capability over the next three years.

Super Submarines

The enhancements include

- 22 new Chinook helicopters, with the first 10 arriving during 2013, as set out in with the Future Rotary Wing Strategy;

- an additional C-17 aircraft to strengthen the air bridge;

- further improvements to our Counter IED's (improvised explosive devices) capabilities, particularly our intelligence and analytical capability to target the networks;

- increased funding for our intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities, doubling REAPER capability;

- an improved Dismounted Close Combat equipment package – making equipment such as state of the art body armour and night vision goggles available to 50 per cent more troops so that they can train with them before deploying to Afghanistan;

- more Bowman tactical radios and patrol satellite systems to improve communications between troops and their commanders and an additional £80M for communications facilities for our Special Forces.

- improvements to Defensive Aids Suites and support arrangements for the Hercules C130J fleet to maximise their use.

In addition to this package from the MoD, the Treasury will also provide a further £280M from the Reserve to pay for additional vehicles, weapons, communications and surveillance assets.

This Treasury funding will deliver:

- more new vehicles such as a 31 per cent increase in Husky tactical support vehicles to be deployed to Afghanistan;

- a 40 per cent increase in Jackal vehicles deployed to Afghanistan;

- additional equipment to combat the IED threat including over 400 hand held metal detectors, robots, and other kit.

Plan for 22 New Battle-Winning Chinooks

THE MOD: The Ministry of Defence announced that they will give a major boost to the military helicopter fleet by supp;ying 22 new Chinook helicopters.

BUT the first ten new Chinooks will not start to roll off the production line until 2012. Then they will be completed in 2013 increasing air support on the front-line?

The Chinook fleet will increase in size from 48 to 70 airframes. This announcement is part of a new Future Helicopter Strategy that will deliver a 40 per cent increase in the number of lift helicopters available for use on operations in extreme conditions, such as those in Afghanistan.

The RAF will fly the new Chinook alongside the Merlins which arrived in Afghanistan last month.

The Future Helicopter Strategy

“Our forces on the frontline in Afghanistan repeatedly tell me that Chinook are indispensable on operations. I am therefore delighted to announce plans to deliver more of these robust, effective and proven battle-winning helicopters."

“Helicopter capability has already doubled in the last three years and this future strategy builds on this, ensuring that our Armed Forces have the very best resources at their disposal.”

Commander of Joint Helicopter Command

Rear Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, said

“The superior lift performance of the Chinook has proved invaluable on operations. This new strategy will dramatically increase our military capability on the battlefield for many years to come.”

The new strategy will see the ageing Sea Kings, which the Royal Navy and RAF currently use, being taken out of service early.

The Navy’s future helicopter requirements would be met by a combination of the Merlin fleet and new Wildcat.

The Army will also operate Wildcat alongside the hugely successful Apache. It will mean that following the retirement of Puma from 2022, the UK’s Armed Forces will operate four core helicopter fleets of Chinook, Apache, Wildcat and Merlin – each of around 65-75 aircraft.

Improvements include

• an increase in helicopter flying hours (which is what commanders use to plan) by 95 per cent

• an upgrade to Lynx helicopters engines

• the first Merlin helicopters deployed to Afghanistan

• a £408M upgrade to the existing Chinook fleet with new engines and part-digitised cockpits

• a £300M upgrade to the Puma fleet to extend its service until at least 2022

• the first of eight converted Chinook Mk3 aircraft have been delivered into service.

This is part of a £6Bn programme of investment over the next decade.

INCREASED PAYMENTS DELIVERED BY

ARMED FORCES COMPENSATION SCHEME REVIEW

The Review was conducted under the independent chairmanship of former Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral the Lord Boyce, and supported by an Independent Scrutiny Group whose members were drawn from academia, the medical profession, the legal profession, Service and ex-Service organisations and interested stakeholders representing injured personnel, their families, and the bereaved.

The Review Team received comments from over 200 individuals and groups, including serving members of the Armed Forces, their families, reservists, veterans, and the general public.

Lord Boyce and his team visited serving Royal Navy, Army and RAF personnel in their bases and at Headley Court and the Admiral also spoke to Ministers, the Chief of the Defence Staff and the heads of the three services.

The key changes include

• Increase the tax-free, index-linked Guaranteed Income Payment (which is paid for life) to reflect the lasting effect of more serious injuries; likely promotions; and extended retirement ages.

• The top level of award, already doubled in 2008, will remain at £570,000 but all other award levels will be increased.

• Those with the most serious multiple injuries will continue to receive full tariff value for each injury up to the maximum £570,000. The rules below that will change so that all injuries in a single incident will receive some compensation (rather than the first 3 injuries as now).

• The maximum award for mental illness will be increased.

• A new fast interim payment will be introduced so those injured can receive some compensation before the entire claims process is complete.

• A new expert medical body will be created to advise on compensation for particular injuries and illnesses such as hearing loss, mental health and genital injury.

• The burden of proof will remain largely as it is, but improvements will be made in cases of illness and where records have not been properly maintained.

• The time limits by which claims must be made will be increased.

• Improvements to the way in which the scheme is communicated to service personnel and their families, focusing on how the scheme works, what payments they might be entitled to, and the calculations behind them.

VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

WITH UK NATIONAL INVENTORY OF WAR MEMORIALS

The IWM have established a database of the memorials they have recorded so far on their website at www.ukniwm.org.uk. They need volunteers to fill in the gaps that they have in the information for existing records (including photographs) and also for forwarding details of memorials which they do not yet know about.

They will supply recording forms in hard copy but all necessary information (including photographs) can also be forwarded to them by email.

The work involves visiting local memorials (which can range from a grand cenotaph to a small plaque on a church wall) carrying out research in libraries, county and local archives and local historical societies. The most important aspect of the work is recording the location, description and the full inscription and name list.

It is very interesting and worthwhile and is ideally suited to retired police officers. It takes up only a few hours of spare time, when available. If anyone is interested, please contact Frances Casey, Project Officer by email at fcasey@iwm.org.uk or by telephone on 020 7207 9863.

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NEW LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT FOR FRONTLINE MEDICS

Armed Forces medics in Afghanistan are now able to use an innovative piece of emergency kit to help save the lives of wounded personnel.

The state of the art EnFlowTM 100 Rapid Blood and Fluid Warmer quickly heats up blood and vital fluids to ensure that they reach vital organs and injured areas fast, without affecting the patient’s core temperature.

This reduces the risk of complications such as hypothermia and coagulopathy - the inability of the blood to clot after trauma.

Six sets, which are able to be used on board emergency medical helicopters, have been sent to Afghanistan as part of a £35,000 contract supplied to the MoD by Prometheus Medical Ltd. A further two sets, for training purposes, are also included in the package.

Flight Lieutenant Fiona McGlynn is Officer Commanding of a Medical Emergency Response Team based at Camp Bastion: “Due to the nature of their injuries, many of the patients we treat are in hypovolaemic shock and in need of a transfusion, when we reach them. Giving them cold blood straight from our supplies can have an adverse effect on their overall body temperature and impact on their recovery."

"The EnFlow will enable us to warm the blood before we carry out a transfusion and ensure the patient arrives in hospital in the best possible condition.”

Dr Malcolm Russell, Managing Director of Prometheus Medical, added:

“As a company with its roots in military emergency medicine, we are committed to providing the very best solutions for the Defence Medical Services for the benefit of wounded personnel on the battlefield."

"Hypothermia in trauma is a real killer and the EnFlow fluid warmer goes some way to redress this problem. We are delighted to be awarded this contract and look forward to fully supporting the Defence Medical Services in its outstanding efforts to provide the wounded with the best possible care.”

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