Army to get Jackals and Coyotes

You may notice this blog has not covered much in the way of British Army or land warfare issues up until now mostly because i find the variety of equipment they use rather bewildering! This is going to change though as the way way to learn about something is to research it and write it up! If i screw up though, say so!

180 new vehicles have been ordered for the Army for combat duty in Afghanistan. 110 Jackal 2s and 70 Coyote Tactical Support Vehicles have been ordered.



Compared to it's predecessor, the Jackal 2 has improved manoeuvrability and (stated) reliability, that of course has to be proven in action, and can carry 3 crew instead of 2.



Coyote is a 6x6 version of the Jackal. Deliveries are expected to begin in a couple of months and the vehicles will be ready for service by the Autumn. Of course the big question is, are these vehicles any good. No doubt they are better than light (or none) armoured Land Rovers but the excellent Defence Of The Realm blog is less than impressed.

Upgraded Lynx AH9 to fly in the Summer

The British Army's upgraded Lynx AH9 will first fly in July. The AH9A Modification Programme is an urgent programme to replace the engines in 12 Lynxes with the LHTEC CTS800-4N to be used in the Lynx Wildcat. The new engines will allow for a 1t increase in payload in hot and high conditions for operation in Afghanistan. The first 4 Lynxes are expected back in Army hands this October and all 12 Lynxes are expected to be back in service by November next year.



The rest of the fleet could also be re-engined, talks with AgustaWestland are currently on-going.

Exercise Cape Bayonet 09

Just to remind the world and especially Argentina that the British are still going to defend the Falklands the latest joint-operation exercise Exercise Cape Bayonet has been held on the islands. The exercise involves all 3 services and T42 destroyer HMS Manchester represented the RN and provided fire support for Army troops using it's main gun. It also directed RAF Tornados to "targets" in support of ground forces.

The PM meanwhile will be meeting his Argentine counterpart as part of his South American tour but said that sovereignty of the islands would not be up for discussion. Thing is, if Gordon Brown said night was dark i'd want to check for myself first so who knows what will happen?

Troubles returning to Northern Ireland?

The shooting of 2 soldiers in Northern Ireland by unnamed paramilitaries will be a shock to people who thought the "troubles" belonged in the past. The soldiers were the first murdered in NI for 12 years and it is thought the attack was made by renegade republicans (possibly the Real IRA who have shown signs recently of rearming and whom tried to detonate a car bomb last year) out to try and derail the troubled peace process. 4 others were also injured and taken to hospital following the attack at Massereene Army Base, home to 38 Engineering Regiment, in County Antrim.

The truth is though the violence has continued in Northern Ireland since the end of the bombing campaigns of the likes of the IRA. Sectarian violence has continued with punishment beatings common. Bombings may have ceased and shootings reduced but the violence and potential for violence has remained as seen by the above sad events. 15% of MI5's total intelligence gathering resources are still dedicated to fighting terrorism in the province. Undercover surveillance soldiers from the Army's Special Reconnaissance Regiment recently revealed to be operating in NI again.

Military to use new gel that stops bullets

A small company has developed a new gel which hardens when it it hit at high impact. d3O locks into a solid form when it is hit absorbing the kinetic energy from the hit. The MOD has awarded the company £100,000 and it is hoped the gel can be applied to the inside of soldier's helmets to reduce the chance of bullets or other projectiles penetrating them. It could be also be employed elsewhere on a soldier's armour.

More British troops to be sent to Afghanistan next year?

British troop numbers in Iraq could be dramatically reduced from the current level of 4000 in Iraq soon but it is likely more troops will be going to join the 8000 odd already in Afghanistan fighting Terry Taliban. The UK defence chief has said there will be no 1-1 transfer though Obama is planning on an Iraq-like surge in Afghanistan and NATO allies including Britain will be expected to add more troops to the 20,000 extra the US are planning to send.



But just like the TV adverts used to say its not all fighting, British troops in Afghanistan have helped open an orphanage, a nursery and a women's centre. Now we guess the troops will be needed there to stop the Taliban from knocking them down.

New equipment shown off

New equipment procured for the British efforts in Afghanistan have been shown off on Salisbury Plain including UAVs, vehicles and small arms. The equipment has been procured using the Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) process, a £3 billion fund for needed equipment that comes from the Treasury separate to the defence budget (which is likely to be pounded later on to get the money back, probably from the Navy). Equipment includes the Desert Hawk 3 UAV, the Mastiff patrol vehicle and new sniper rifles.


"No i don't feel daft at all..."

British troops in Zimbabwe?

The new Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) which is signing a power sharing deal with Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF today, apparently wishes the return of a British Army team to help train the Zimbabwean army. The MDC no doubt wishes to temper the actions of the army which has often been involved in violence against the MDC. It would be a tough call though considering the antagonism between Mugabe and Britain lately and his claims Britian wished to make Zimbabwe a colony again.


"I'm all for it as long as they give us some toys too, a squadron of Typhoons and a division of Challenger 2s should suffice."

New Army trucks head to Helmand

40 of the UK's latest support vehicles have embarked on a transport ship for deployment to Afghanistan where they will support 3 Commando Brigade. The new trucks have better protection, are more reliable and have better air conditioning (important for operation in Afghanistan's deserts). The vehicles are part of a £1.3 billion procurement in 7000 vehicles and 200 of these vehicles will be deployed to Afghanistan.

New Mastiff 2s ordered

A £60 million contract has been awarded for Mastiff 2 armoured vehicles for the British Army. The vehicles, made by NP Aerospace, have improved axles and suspension, improved thermal imaging equipment for the driver and improved armoured protection for the people inside. The vehicles are based on the South African Cougar AFV with the base Cougar being fitted out with British armour and electronics at Coventry based NP Aerospace.

Navy to plug troop gaps in Afghanistan

1000 Royal Navy personnel will be assigned to Helmand province in Afghanistan to help fight Terry later in the year. It will be the largest land deployment of RN personnel in 50 years and shows how stretched our armed forces have become as the naval ratings fill gaps in the 8000 strong force (3 Commando Brigade) being deployed in September. The RN personnel will serve as drivers, medics, radio operators and other roles and have been training for the 6 month tour in the UK though some training has been hampered by a lack of equipment. Still i suppose with Labour abolishing the fleet the sailors need something to do.

Sergeant cleared of stealing from SAS

A Finance Sergeant has been cleared by a military court of stealing money from the SAS (surely foolhardy to the extreme?) Staff Sergeant Mark McKay was found not guilty of stealing US$200,000 from the 22 Special Air Service based in Hereford. McKay claimed the money, found hidden in a plant pot, was part of his takings from running a shop for troops at a base he served at in the Gulf in 2003. McKay said the money was hidden in a plant pot to keep it hidden from his wife with whom he was breaking up with at the time. McKay, who now is set to be promoted to Sergeant Major, said he was ashamed though of making so much money from his comrades through selling beer and viagra.