Briefings : Westminster, SAR, GPS spoofing

Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster has completed it's major refit and upgrade. The frigate's Seawolf system has been upgraded to increase the range, the command and control system upgraded, new gun and a transom flap. Westminster will begin sea trials ahead of a return to the fleet in May.

The Royal Navy's Search & Rescue duty crew have broken the "record" for responding to emergency calls. In 2009 there were 447 call-outs, breaking the previous record of 382.

France are still trying to sell Rafale to someone, Kuwait is a likely customer though the sale is now facing opposition in the Kuwaiti parliament. GPS spoofing could be a future terrorist threat it has been warned. More subtle than jamming, spoofing would be harder to detect.

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.

Terrorists could use insects as weapon

Terrorists could apparently use insect-based weapons in future attacks bringing insects into a foreign country to spread deadly disease. Apparently it would be easier than creating a nuclear weapon, indeed. The problem for terrorists would be the unpredictability of the insect weapon. Never work with children or animals they say, or bugs carrying Rift Valley Fever.


Not quite like this, insecticon picture from here.