U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed the appointment of Gen. Sharon Nesmith as vice chief of the defense staff and aide-de-camp to the British king. Nesmith, currently serving as the British Army’s deputy chief of the general staff, will take on the role from Gen. Gwyn Jenkins beginning in June. She held other leadership...
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Tag: Grant Shapps
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UK to Build More Multirole Support Ships to Boost Military Readiness
The United Kingdom plans to build six additional warships to support Royal Marines’ special operations. According to a government press release, the new vessels will expand the number of multirole support ships developed under the Royal Navy shipbuilding program to 28, backed by increased defense spending. The MRSS units in the pipeline include Type 26...
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UK, South Korea Conduct Joint Maritime Patrol to Enforce UN Sanctions Against North Korea
The United Kingdom said the Royal Navy recently conducted maritime patrols around the Korean Peninsula. British sailors on the HMS Spey offshore patrol vessel sailed the region alongside their South Korean counterparts to enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolutions against North Korea. Since 2006, the UNSC has imposed nine major sanctions on Pyongyang over...
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United Kingdom’s Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank Moves Closer to Full Production
The United Kingdom’s Challenger 3 armored vehicle is almost ready for battle. According to an update from the Ministry of Defence, the latest of the eight Challenger 3 main battle tank prototypes have rolled off from the Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land factory production line. “This tank will be at the heart of the British Army’s...
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UK Government Pledges $311M to Boost Ukraine’s Artillery Reserves
The United Kingdom has pledged about $310.6 million to strengthen its artillery supply chains in support of Ukraine. The U.K. Ministry of Defence said the new funding will be spent over the coming months to boost Kyiv’s artillery ammunition reserves. The funding package was announced to mark the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine...
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UK Selects Babcock for $710M Contract to Upgrade HMS Victorious Submarine
The U.K. Ministry of Defence has awarded Babcock International a $709.9 million contract for maintenance and life extension support of the Royal Navy’s HMS Victorious submarine. The agreement calls for the defense contractor to repair and modernize the Vanguard-class submarine, which serves a critical role in the United Kingdom’s continuous sea deterrence efforts. In a...
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UK Commits $416M Investment to Produce More Drones for Ukraine’s Armed Forces
The United Kingdom is sending thousands of drones to Ukraine to aid in the fight against Russia. On Thursday, Grant Shapps, the U.K.’s defense secretary, unveiled a $160 million funding package during his visit to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. The funding is in addition to the $256...
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New Defense Pact Seeks to Enhance UK-Australia Security Cooperation
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps have signed a new defense and security cooperation agreement to strengthen the partnership between Canberra and London on common issues and concerns. The U.K. government said the pact was signed during the annual Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations, or AUKMIN, held Friday...
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UK Accelerates Development of DragonFire Laser Weapon for Royal Navy
The United Kingdom is accelerating the delivery timeline of its DragonFire lasers. Grant Shapps, British defense secretary, says speeding up the program is a response to the “rapidly changing threat environment” in the region. The DragonFire laser was initially scheduled to be rolled out by 2032. With the new timetable, the weapon system will be installed...
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MBDA UK, PGZ Ink $4.9B Deal to Bolster Poland’s Air Defense System
MBDA UK has signed a $4.9 billion agreement with Polish defense firm PGZ to build up Narew, Poland’s next-generation air defense program. The deal will support Poland’s plans to establish a powerful ground-based air defense system that can neutralize threats from cruise missiles and fighter jets, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. The defense...