The facility will provide a key capability to develop UK assets that can perform in the harshest electromagnetic environments on operations. Under the new £20 million contract, QinetiQ will build a radio frequency, anti-jamming test facility at the Ministry of Defence’s Boscombe Down site in Wiltshire. The ‘silent hangar’ will be large enough to fit some of the biggest military assets, including Protector drones, Chinook helicopters, and F-35 fighter jets – a far greater capacity than existing UK facilities. Due to open in 2026, the anechoic hangar creates the perfect environment to test the integrity of the UK’s military equipment. The hangar also prevents…
Author: HM Government
President, Libyans deserve stability and prosperity, but disappointingly a political settlement to enable this remains distant. Clashes over the last few months in Ras Ajdir, Tripoli, Zawiya, and the Ghadames basin, as well as oil field shutdowns in Sharara, demonstrate the fragility of the current situation. Let me make three points this morning. First, we note the political initiatives taking place outside of the UN’s auspices, including the recent meeting of members of the House of Representatives and High State Council. We welcome all efforts to foster political dialogue. But these should be inclusive if they are to be effective,…
The Prime Minister and Welsh First Minister will supercharge efforts to make Britain a clean energy superpower today, by investing in homegrown energy to grow the economy, create jobs, boost skills, and strengthen our energy independence. Visiting a wind farm in West Wales which benefitted from Welsh Government funding, the Prime Minister and First Minister will pledge close cooperation to unleash the benefits of a publicly owned energy company, in the pair’s first official visit since the appointment of the First Minister. The Prime Minister will pledge to build on work already done by the Welsh Government to establish a…
From 24 September, it will be illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes as they will be added to the list of dangerous prohibited items already banned, including zombie knives, butterfly knives, Samurai swords and push daggers. Ahead of the new ban coming into force, anyone who has one of these weapons is being urged to hand them over – safely and legally. This scheme will be run at police stations across England and Wales for four weeks between 26 August and 23 September, without repercussions for surrendering these potentially dangerous knives safely. Individuals can also anonymously dispose of these…
The wartime documents are valued at £397,680 Export bar is to allow time for a UK institution to acquire the papers An export bar has been placed on Alan Turing’s unpublished Second World War papers relating to the ‘Delilah’ project, which developed a portable encryption system for use in military operations. The papers are valued at £397,680 (inclusive of VAT of £16,280 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution), and are at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found to acquire them. Following Turing’s groundbreaking work on the Enigma machines at Bletchley Park, he…
This is a perilous moment in the Middle East. Israel’s actions in Gaza continue to lead to intolerable loss of civilian life. Hostages taken by Hamas terrorists remain in chains, 316 days since the 7 October attack. There are French and British citizens among them. Fighting between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah has intensified. Iranian threats of further escalation mean the risks of a full-scale regional war are rising. What we are witnessing is a destructive cycle of violence. One miscalculation, and the situation risks spiralling into an even deeper and more intractable conflict. This cycle, with its tendency towards escalation, is making progress…
A UK satellite to support military operations successfully launched into space last night. Named Tyche, the satellite is UK Space Command’s first satellite which can capture daytime images and videos of the Earth’s surface. The satellite will strengthen the UK’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. As the conflict in Ukraine has shown, the use of space is crucial to military operations. Tyche is the first satellite to be launched under the Ministry of Defence’s space-based ISR programme, which will deliver a constellation of satellites and supporting ground systems by 2031. These satellites will not only support military operations, but…
The signing took place at the Presidential Palace in Lima on Friday 16th August 2024 with the attendance of President Dina Boluarte, between His Majesty’s Ambassador to Peru Gavin Cook and Peruvian Ministry of Health Dr. César Vásquez Sánchez Lima, 16 August 2024. The Government of Peru and the UK Government have signed a new government to government agreement to enable the delivery of a large-scale $630 million hospital infrastructure that will benefit around 5 million Peruvians in northern regions of the country. The programme is a priority for the Peruvian government, as it aims to increase healthcare provision in…
significant upgrades made to 10 courts across England and Wales over £50,000 invested into refurbishment projects from Bolton to Truro more calming environments to better support vulnerable court users These rooms provide a safe haven for victims or witnesses while they wait to give evidence and the results of the work will help the most vulnerable visitors feel safe and supported before giving evidence. The upgrades include improved video link rooms to facilitate pre-recorded evidence, new refreshment stations, and more comfortable seating as well as damp-proofing, re-painting and re-carpeting. By providing a welcoming and inclusive place for vulnerable…
Today I have published my recommendations to the Government for how the proposed infected blood compensation scheme might be improved, based on the feedback I have received from the community of those infected and affected by this issue. Last May the previous Government published its proposals for a compensation scheme. This was built on the recommendations of Sir Brian Langstaff in his Infected Blood inquiry reports, in particular his second interim report, which in turn was founded on my own framework study published over two years ago. I have provided these recommendations to the Government on their proposals, alongside the…