Military news

• Leonardo fears US domestic politics will scupper T-X bid

  21-03-2017 16:20 via flightglobal.com
  As the battle for the US Air Force s T-X trainer programme heats up, Italy s Leonardo fears that its T-100 will be overlooked due to political considerations.
  
  Read more

• Rishi Sunak’s national service pledge is ‘bonkers’, says ex-military chief

  26-05-2024 23:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Criticism of proposed scheme comes as another blow to the party’s struggling election campaignBritain’s armed forces need more money not untrained teenage volunteers, former military leaders and Tory figures have said in a new blow to the Conservatives’ faltering election campaign.Within hours of being announced, Rishi Sunak’s election pledge to bring back military service for 18-year-olds was rubbished by army chiefs and a former Conservative defence secretary. Continue
  
  Read more

• ‘Passionate, professional’ RAF pilot killed in Spitfire crash named as Mark Long

  26-05-2024 19:43 via theguardian.com
  
  William and Kate lead tributes to squadron leader, who died near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on SaturdayA “passionate, professional” RAF pilot who was killed in a Spitfire crash while taking part in a Battle of Britain event has been named.Sqn Ldr Mark Long died following the crash at RAF Coningsby on Saturday. An investigation into the incident that led to his death has been launched. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• William and Kate lead tribute to RAF pilot killed in memorial event crash

  26-05-2024 18:51 via theguardian.com
  
  Airman died at the scene after second world war-era plane came down near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire The Prince and Princess of Wales have led tributes to an RAF pilot who was killed in a Spitfire crash while taking part in a Battle of Britain memorial event.The airman, who has not yet been named by police, died at the scene from his injuries after the second world war-era plane came down near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire at about 1.20pm on Saturday. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• ‘No one going to jail’ for avoiding UK national service, says Cleverly

  26-05-2024 11:53 via theguardian.com
  
  Home secretary says teenagers will not face criminal sanction if they refuse to join military or do volunteer workUK politics live – latest updatesNo teenagers will be sent to prison for avoiding the Conservatives’ proposed “mandatory” national service, James Cleverly has insisted.The UK home secretary said young people would face no criminal sanctions if they refused to join the military or do volunteer work under the Tories’ plan. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• What the last veterans can teach us all as D-Day fades from memory

  26-05-2024 09:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Nearly 80 years since the Allied invasion, the testimony of Charles Shay, a 99-year-old former US army medic, reminds us of the significance of that dayNext month will see the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France, when about 156,000 troops crossed the Channel to fight their way on to five Normandy beaches.No one who took part in that day, 6 June 1944, the largest seaborne assault in history, would ever forget the experience. Indeed, many were haunted by memories of it
  
  Read more

• Sunak promises to bring back national service for 18-year-olds

  26-05-2024 00:34 via theguardian.com
  
  Labour lambasts youth policy as ‘desperate and unfunded’ and designed to make youngsters fix government-created problemsRishi Sunak announced last night that a future Conservative government would bring back mandatory national service last night, as he attempted to reignite his election campaign after an error-strewn start.Under the plan, which appeared to be his latest attempt to reduce Tory losses by winning over voters drifting to Reform UK, the prime minister said that every 18-y
  
  Read more

• Pilot dies in Spitfire crash in field near RAF Coningsby base in Lincolnshire

  25-05-2024 17:57 via theguardian.com
  
  Plane was part of RAF Battle of Britain memorial flight, which maintains historic aircraft in airworthy conditionA pilot has died after a Spitfire crashed in a field near an RAF base in Lincolnshire, a Royal Air Force spokesperson has confirmed.“It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today,” a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Pilot dies in Spitfire crash at RAF Coningsby memorial event

  25-05-2024 17:57 via theguardian.com
  
  Accident happened as second world war aircraft was taking part in commemoration of Battle of Britain in Lincolnshire A pilot has died after a Spitfire crashed in a field near an RAF base in Lincolnshire, a Royal Air Force spokesperson has confirmed.The plane crashed during an RAF memorial event at an airfield in Lincolnshire. It is understood the plane was taking part in a commemoration of the Battle of Britain at RAF Coningsby. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Pilot dies in Spitfire crash at RAF Coningsby event

  25-05-2024 17:57 via theguardian.com
  
  Accident happened as second world war aircraft was taking part in commemoration of Battle of Britain in Lincolnshire A pilot has died after a Spitfire crashed in a field near an RAF base in Lincolnshire, a Royal Air Force spokesperson has confirmed.“It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today,” a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Spitfire crashes at memorial event at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire

  25-05-2024 16:48 via theguardian.com
  
  Second world war aircraft was taking part in a commemoration of the Battle of Britain when the incident happenedA Spitfire has crashed during an RAF memorial event at an airfield in Lincolnshire.It is understood the plane was taking part in a commemoration of the Battle of Britain at RAF Coningsby. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Grant Shapps orders review into plane shortage before 80th D-day anniversary

  19-05-2024 14:24 via theguardian.com
  
  Defence secretary says RAF’s fleet stretched owing to conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East, but expects aircrafts will be foundThe UK defence secretary, Grant Shapps, has ordered an urgent review after it emerged there is a shortage of planes for a mass parachute drop to mark the 80th anniversary of D-day.The conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have left the RAF’s transport fleet stretched and defence officials are scrambling to find more aircrafts for next month’s commemo
  
  Read more

• Union warns of threat to Harland & Wolff jobs if Treasury vetoes £200m support

  16-05-2024 19:01 via theguardian.com
  
  GMB says historic shipyard’s workers are concerned by reports that chancellor could withhold vital export credit guaranteeA union representing workers at the historic Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast has written to the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, warning that doubts over financial support for the company are putting jobs in jeopardy.The GMB said that workers were concerned by claims that a £200m export guarantee could be blocked by the Treasury, despite having the backing of the
  
  Read more

• Graffiti-covered door from French revolutionary wars found in Kent

  15-05-2024 08:44 via theguardian.com
  
  Markings include public executions and a sailing ship chiselled into door in 1790s by bored English soldiersA scratched wooden door found by chance at the top of a medieval turret has been revealed to be an “astonishing” graffiti-covered relic from the French revolutionary wars, including an carving that could be a fantasy of Napoleon Bonaparte being hanged.Over 50 individual graffiti carvings were chiselled into the door in the 1790s by bored English soldiers stationed at Dover Cast
  
  Read more

• Grant Shapps, the lighthearted defence secretary with a gag for every warhead | John Crace

  14-05-2024 19:43 via theguardian.com
  
  The minister did the media rounds, reassuring the public with his infinite levitas that we were safe from our foesCometh the hour, cometh the man. On Monday, Rishi Sunak had laid out his terrifying vision of the future. The collapse of western civilisation. A world of plague and pestilence. Where nuclear war had become a recreational hazard. The British government reduced to infants. Mewling and puking in their mothers’ arms.Enter the Shappster. Man in tights. Rish!’s very own superh
  
  Read more

• UK armed forces being trained to cover possible Border Force summer strikes

  14-05-2024 17:09 via theguardian.com
  
  Exclusive: Soldiers spotted at Home Office facilities in England as results of PCS union’s national ballot expectedMembers of the armed forces are being trained once again to cover for striking Border Force staff at ports and airports, the Guardian has learned.Dozens of uniformed soldiers have been seen at Home Office facilities in south-east England amid concerns that the UK could be about to enter another summer of travel chaos. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• British armed forces personnel trained up in case of Border Force strikes over summer

  14-05-2024 16:27 via theguardian.com
  
  Exclusive: Soldiers spotted at Home Office facilities in England as results of PCS union’s national ballot expectedMembers of the armed forces are being trained once again to cover for striking Border Force staff at ports and airports, the Guardian has learned.Dozens of uniformed soldiers have been seen at Home Office facilities in south-east England amid concerns that the UK could be about to enter another summer of travel chaos. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• ‘Who do you trust to keep you safe?’: Sunak to fight next election on UK’s security

  13-05-2024 14:59 via theguardian.com
  
  Prime minister says in speech he will frame Tories as party of the future, while Labour has negative agendaRishi Sunak has vowed to fight the next election on the UK’s security, attacking Labour and Keir Starmer in a fiercely political speech in which he said: “The choice at the next election is: who do you trust to keep you safe?”The prime minister said in his speech he would frame the Conservatives as the party of the future, but also defended the party’s record over th
  
  Read more

• UK given stark warning over ‘very limited’ air defence systems

  12-05-2024 18:10 via theguardian.com
  
  Exclusive: Key defence contractor says UK’s capabilities are ‘negligible’ as a result of long-term under-investmentBritain’s air defence systems are “very limited, to the point of being negligible”, a key defence contractor has claimed, as the Ministry of Defence warned of the gravest risk of attack from the skies in 30 years.Northrop Grumman UK, a leading provider of defence technology to the RAF and Royal Navy, offered its assessment in response to questioni
  
  Read more

• UK given stark warning over ‘negligible’ air defence systems

  12-05-2024 18:10 via theguardian.com
  
  Exclusive: Key defence contractor says UK’s capabilities are ‘very limited’ as a result of long-term under-investmentBritain’s air defence systems are “very limited, to the point of being negligible”, a key defence contractor has claimed, as the Ministry of Defence warned of the gravest risk of attack from the skies in 30 years.Northrop Grumman UK, a leading provider of defence technology to the RAF and Royal Navy, offered its assessment in response to questio
  
  Read more

• UK armed forces chief urges US to ‘stay strong’ and resist isolationism

  08-05-2024 16:45 via theguardian.com
  
  ‘Sticking together’ is vital as world becomes more dangerous, says Adm Sir Tony Radakin on Washington visitBritain’s most senior military commander has called on the US to “stay strong, stick together, and see through” conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as he appealed against future American isolationism on a trip to Washington DC.Adm Sir Tony Radakin said at a conference he believed “the world is undeniably becoming more dangerous” and invoked mem
  
  Read more

• About 270,000 UK forces records exposed to Chinese hackers

  07-05-2024 21:10 via theguardian.com
  
  Payroll data at risk includes names, bank details and addresses of current and former force members, government sources suggestAn estimated 270,000 payroll records belonging to nearly all members of Britain’s armed forces have been exposed to Chinese hackers in a breach at a third-party contractor that was discovered a few days ago.The data at risk includes names and bank details for full-time military personnel, part-time reservists, including at least one MP, and veterans who left after
  
  Read more

• 270,000 UK forces records thought to have been exposed to Chinese hackers

  07-05-2024 11:53 via theguardian.com
  
  Payroll data at risk includes names, bank details and addresses of current and former force members, government sources suggestAn estimated 270,000 payroll records belonging to nearly all members of Britain’s armed forces have been exposed to Chinese hackers in a breach at a third-party contractor that was discovered a few days ago.The data at risk includes names and bank details and, in a few thousand instances, addresses and national insurance numbers of current and recently departed mem
  
  Read more

• Russia threatens UK military and orders nuclear drills after ‘provocation’

  06-05-2024 17:59 via theguardian.com
  
  Vladimir Putin responds to recent statements from David Cameron and Emmanuel Macron over Ukraine warUkraine war – live updatesRussia has threatened to strike British military facilities and ordered its military to hold battlefield nuclear weapons drills in a move the Kremlin described as a response to comments from the French president, Emmanuel Macron, on western troops fighting in Ukraine and from the British foreign secretary, David Cameron, on using British-supplied weapons against Rus
  
  Read more

• Former female trainee in Royal Marines says sexual assault was dismissed as ‘high jinks’

  06-05-2024 06:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Marines ‘want to protect the chain of command’, she says. ‘They don’t want to protect women’When Isabel became a trainee for the Royal Marines band, she thought she was fulfilling a childhood dream. But within a few weeks the 18-year-old found herself subject to what she describes as a sexual assault, an incident that was rapidly dismissed by her commanding officers as “high jinks” – and subsequently felt ostracised to the point where she became su
  
  Read more

• Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting to bring photo ID

  02-05-2024 21:41 via theguardian.com
  
  Former PM made the requirement to bring photo ID a stipulation of the Elections Act in 2022Boris Johnson was turned away from his local polling station when trying to cast his vote in Thursday’s elections after forgetting to bring the required photo identity.The former prime minister was initially told by polling station staff he would not be allowed to vote in the police and crime commissioner election in South Oxfordshire without proving his identity. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Hearings into alleged war crimes by SAS in Afghanistan delayed into 2025

  02-05-2024 19:08 via theguardian.com
  
  Even with extra legal assistance, hearings into suspicious killings of 80 Afghans would be delayed until March 2025Detailed hearings into alleged war crimes committed by SAS soldiers in Afghanistan at a public inquiry are likely to be delayed into 2025, prompting a row between investigators and the Ministry of Defence.A letter, made public on Thursday, from a solicitor to the public inquiry addressed to the MoD complained of unacceptable delays in supplying evidence. The ministry responded by sa
  
  Read more

• The right to acquit based on conscience is rooted in Quaker pacifism | Letter

  02-05-2024 19:07 via theguardian.com
  
  Antony Barlow on how his grandfather helped introduce a ‘conscience clause’ against compulsory military service in 1916The report of Trudi Warner’s trial (Judge throws out case against climate activist who held sign on jurors’ rights, 22 April) being thrown out on the basis of jurors having the right to acquit a defendant based on their conscience, relates directly back to the so-called conscience clause introduced by a number of Quakers, including my grandfather, John He
  
  Read more

• Kremlin rejects US claims Russia used ‘chemical weapon’ in Ukraine

  02-05-2024 17:23 via defencetalk.com
  
  DefenceTalkThe Kremlin on Thursday rejected allegations by the United States that Russian forces had used a “chemical weapon” in Ukraine and blasted new sanctions targeting Moscow’s key trading partners. The US State Department said Wednesday that Russia used “the chemical weapon chloropicrin” against Ukrainian forces. “As always, such accusations sound completely baseless and unsubstantiated,” Kremlin […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kremlin-reject
  
  Read more

• China’s new aircraft carrier conducts first sea trials: state media

  02-05-2024 17:20 via defencetalk.com
  
  DefenceTalkChina’s Fujian aircraft carrier took to the water for maiden sea trials on Wednesday, state media said, a key next step in a vast naval build-up by Beijing as it carves out a more assertive role for itself in the Pacific and beyond. The Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier after the Liaoning and the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinas-new-aircraft-carrier-conducts-first-sea-trials-state-media-80244/
  
  Read more

Follow @Militaty_News on Twitter!