Latest news with #JohnHealey
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Defence secretary John Healey visits AWE Aldermaston nuclear site
The UK's nuclear weapons centre in Berkshire is providing security for "generations to come", the defence secretary has Healey visited the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston to mark its 75th site is part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) - the partnership of organisations that operate, maintain and develop the UK's nuclear recent Strategic Defence Review included £15bn spending on the nuclear warhead programme. More than 1,500 jobs have been created at the Aldermaston site in the past year, the government has said. AWE has two sites in Berkshire - one in Aldermaston and one in Burghfield - developing and manufacturing the country's nuclear deterrent, which sees a nuclear-armed submarine at sea this month, the government announced it would be adding to the UK's defence systems, including 12 new attack submarines, with upgrades coming to the his visit - the first by a defence secretary since 2018 - Mr Healey met staff working to create the next generation of warheads, replacing those on the Trident nuclear-weapons media was also given rare access to the facility. Scientists showed the Orion laser system which recreates conditions in a warhead at the point of detonation. Building work is also underway on a new so-called hub on the site which will accommodate up to 3,000 engineers when it is Healey said: "It's the historic site which for 75 years has been at the heart of the UK's ability to build, develop and maintain our independent nuclear deterrent."What the workforce do is a source of great pride for us all but also provides us with that ultimate security - for this country and to our Nato said the £15bn spending would support AWE's workforce of 9,500 at Aldermaston, with 1,500 new skilled staff and double the number of apprentices and graduates joining in the past 12 months."It's investment now for the security of our generations to come."It's not just about the scientists on site - its the supply chain and the opportunities for young people in Reading and beyond," he said. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Scottish Sun
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Brit AI-drone gunships to fly alongside Apache helicopters in war of the future
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITAIN'S new AI-drone gunships will fly alongside Apache helicopters in future battles. Apache pilots will command up to six drones, known as mules, carrying missiles, sensors and jamming kit. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Britain's new AI-drone gunships will fly alongside Apache helicopters in future wars The mules will also be programmed to fight autonomously and control swarms of smaller drones on the ground. This triple-layer system will give the Army far greater firepower and aims to protect our fleet of Apache AH-64Es, Challenger 3 tanks plus soldiers on the ground. More integration of crewed and uncrewed aircraft had been hinted at in the Strategic Defence Review announced earlier this month. Defence Secretary John Healey told this week's RUSI land warfare conference in London: 'From this year, we will be investing more than £100million in new, initial funding to develop land drone swarms.' READ MORE ON DRONES GULF EXIT Brit & US spy planes quit Gulf amid fears of Iran reprisals over Israel's attack 'Our Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (the mules) will fly alongside the Apache attack helicopters and enhance the Army's ability to strike, survive and win on the battlefield. 'This will be a game-changer. It will be applying the lessons from Ukraine in a world- leading way. It will be putting the UK at the leading edge of innovation in Nato.' Chief of the General Staff Sir Roly Walker said 80 per cent of the Army's weapons in future wars would be drones — as it could take months to build Apaches and tanks and years to train their crews. He said drones were vital as the Ukraine war had 'shown how a £20million tank and four experienced crew can be lost to a £1,000 drone operated by a kid with a few days' training'. He added of the mule drones: 'You don't want to lose them but, if you do, it's not a tragedy because, although sophisticated, they are uncrewed.'
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Brit AI-drone gunships to fly alongside Apache helicopters in war of the future
BRITAIN'S new AI-drone gunships will fly alongside Apache helicopters in future battles. Apache pilots will command up to six drones, known as mules, carrying missiles, sensors and jamming kit. The mules will also be programmed to fight autonomously and control swarms of smaller drones on the ground. This triple-layer system will give the Army far greater firepower and aims to protect our fleet of Apache AH-64Es, Challenger 3 tanks plus soldiers on the ground. More integration of crewed and uncrewed aircraft had been hinted at in the Strategic Defence Review announced earlier this month. Defence Secretary John Healey told this week's RUSI land warfare conference in London: 'From this year, we will be investing more than £100million in new, initial funding to develop land drone swarms.' 'Our Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (the mules) will fly alongside the Apache attack helicopters and enhance the Army's ability to strike, survive and win on the battlefield. 'This will be a game-changer. It will be applying the lessons from Ukraine in a world- leading way. It will be putting the UK at the leading edge of innovation in Nato.' Chief of the General Staff Sir Roly Walker said 80 per cent of the Army's weapons in future wars would be drones — as it could take months to build Apaches and tanks and years to train their crews. He said drones were vital as the Ukraine war had 'shown how a £20million tank and four experienced crew can be lost to a £1,000 drone operated by a kid with a few days' training'. He added of the mule drones: 'You don't want to lose them but, if you do, it's not a tragedy because, although sophisticated, they are uncrewed.'
Sky News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Israel-Iran live: Trump says he 'may or may not' strike Iran - as Starmer calls emergency COBRA meeting
It's likely Sir Keir Starmer's government won't wade into the Middle East in defence of Israel, according to our experts. Speaking in our live Q&A earlier this afternoon, our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn said there were some roles Britain could hypothetically play. Britain could help plug the gaps in Israel's dwindling arsenal by supplying air defence projectiles - with reports emerging today that Israel was burning through its supplies of Arrow interceptors. But Waghorn said: "I think Britain's got to think very carefully about this. "We have sent various RAF assets to the region and there's a possibility that they get involved in trying to protect Israel from more missile attacks." Our military analyst Michael Clarke points out that defence secretary John Healey suggested this at a defence conference this week. "I thought it was rather curious," said Clarke. Both described any British involvement as "politically hard to imagine". Waghorn said: "I think there's a real queasiness about that in the British government, and there's a lot of concern, I think, among Labour MPs as to what Israel's done, why it's done it so pre-emptively and has it provided any evidence. "I think Britain is like what we're saying about China and Russia and everyone else - stay out of it." Catch up on their insight from our Q&A below...
Evening Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Evening Standard
Family of UK embassy staff withdrawn from Israel as air strikes continue
British Typhoon fighter jets have also been deployed to the region, which Defence Secretary John Healey said on Tuesday was 'part of the moves to reinforce de-escalation in the region, to reinforce security in the region, and may also be used to help support our allies'.
