The Daily Politics - Latest News

International Robot Race

editor@the-daily-politics.com (The Editor) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:07:45 GMT

Four Australian and eight overseas technology teams are gearing up this month for the elimination round in the international challenge to find the next generation of fully autonomous robots that can carry out defence missions in the battlefield of the future.

The grand challenge event will be held in South Australia in November this year, with close to US $2 million up for grabs in total prize money for the competing Multi-Autonomous Ground-robotics International Challenge (MAGIC) teams.

Chef Gets a New Chopper

editor@the-daily-politics.com (The Editor) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:24:10 GMT

Helicopter pilot Captain Joanna Gordon, who began her Army career as a caterer, has just returned from her second tour of Afghanistan where she supported operations from the cockpit of an Apache.

Captain 'Jo' Gordon, a 39-year-old officer in the Army Air Corps, flies the most sophisticated piece of kit in the Army's arsenal, but began her career in the modest kitchen of her father's local pub in Devon where she learnt to cook.

She joined the Army Catering Corps - now part of the Royal Logistic Corps - at the age of 17:

Gunboat Diplomacy, Royal Navy Task Force Sets Sail for the USA

editor@the-daily-politics.com (The Editor) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:47:08 GMT

The Royal Navy's amphibious flagship HMS Albion, leading the UK's amphibious Task Group, left Devonport last week to meet up with the Auriga multinational Naval Task Group off the east coast of the USA.

The Auriga deployment is a joint maritime operational exercise lasting four months involving the UK, US and French navies.

HMS Albion and the UK's amphibious Task Group,

Royal Anglians Receive Warm Welcome in Barking

editor@the-daily-politics.com (The Editor) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:16:20 GMT

The people of Barking and Dagenham lined the streets to welcome the soldiers of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment as they march through Barking to mark their return home from Afghanistan.

It is the first time the Battalion has exercised the Freedom of the Borough, which was awarded to The Regiment, by Barking and Dagenham Council, in January.

RAF Tornados Commence Operations in Afghanistan

editor@the-daily-politics.com (The Editor) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Newly arrived RAF Tornado pilots to Afghanistan have already flown over Helmand Province several times providing crucial support to coalition ground operations.
Tornado GR4

Flying out of Kandahar Airfield the Tornado GR4 provides crucial reconnaissance of the country and is one of many coalition fast jets in Afghanistan that can be 'scrambled' at short notice to assist ground 'troops in contact', a term used when forces are under enemy fire.

Combined Afghan and Australian force targets major insurgent cell

editor@the-daily-politics.com (The Editor) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:01:48 GMT

Afghan security troops and Australian Special Forces have conducted disruption operations in southern Afghanistan that successfully targeted Taliban networks in an insurgent stronghold in northern Kandahar province.

The large scale offensive against Taliban insurgents in the district of Shah Wali Kot, was part of ISAF’s HAMKARI initiative, an ongoing civil-military activity aimed at bringing security, governance and economic opportunity to the people of Kandahar.

The five-day Afghan National Security Force (ANSF)

Surgeon General outlines 'medical pathway' for injured troops

editor@the-daily-politics.com (The Editor) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:00:00 GMT

The Surgeon General, Surgeon Vice Admiral Philip Raffaelli, has outlined the end-to-end process in place to ensure that all servicemen and women receive the best possible care if injured while on operations.

Speaking to the media at a briefing in MOD Main Building in London, Surgeon Vice Admiral Raffaelli explained that in Afghanistan there are primary healthcare providers embedded within the various units out in the field to provide care for illness and trauma and a hospital capability in Helmand.

He said that these are the first points of the pathway,

MOD scientists develop upgraded body armour for troops in Afghanistan

editor@the-daily-politics.com (The Editor) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:56:38 GMT

The new Osprey Mark 4 body armour which will be introduced into Afghanistan this winter is testament to the efforts of MOD's scientists to make sure serving soldiers have the best possible equipment. Report by Sharon Kean.

Osprey Mark 4 is the next generation of personal protection, which will be worn by the soldiers of 16 Air Assault Brigade who are due to deploy to Afghanistan in October.

It offers troops better-fitting and newly-upgraded armour, protecting them as they work and fight.

HMS York returns from South Atlantic deployment

editor@the-daily-politics.com (The Editor) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:36:06 GMT

HMS York has returned home to cheering crowds and delighted families following a busy few months patrolling the South Atlantic.

The Portsmouth-based warship, a Type 42 destroyer, was deployed at the end of November and sailed to ports including Gibraltar, the Cape Verde Islands, Brazil and the Canary Islands before arriving at the Falkland Islands in January 2010.

Defence Review to Make 'Clean Break' from 'Cold War Mindset'

editor@the-daily-politics.com (The Editor) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 08:27:30 GMT

In a speech to the Royal United Services Institute in London this morning Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox has said that the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) will make a clean break from the thinking of the past and will be 'ruthless and without sentiment'.

Dr Fox said:

"It will be strategic, cross-government and comprehensive, covering all areas of defence and security.

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