Latest news with #Challenger2
Pembrokeshire Herald
15 hours ago
- General
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Tanks return as Royal Tank Regiment launches live-fire training
HUNDREDS of soldiers and armoured vehicles have arrived in Pembrokeshire as large-scale military training begins today (Monday, June 9) at Castlemartin Training Area. The Royal Tank Regiment Battlegroup will be carrying out live-fire and manoeuvre training at the range until Friday, June 27. Live firing will take place from Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 6:00pm, with night firing scheduled from Monday to Thursday between 8:00pm and 3:00am. Not all days will see live fire, but these are the authorised times. Residents should expect increased military traffic, with tanks and heavy equipment being transported in and out of the area during the exercise period. The Royal Tank Regiment is the oldest tank unit in the world and operates the Challenger 2 main battle tank. The training is considered critical to the operational readiness of the unit. Castlemartin is one of the few locations in the UK capable of hosting live-firing exercises at this scale, supporting complex, high-intensity training that ensures frontline forces remain prepared for deployment both at home and overseas. Later in the year, the Queen's Royal Hussars will train at Castlemartin from October 13 to November 7, followed by the Royal Welsh Battlegroup from November 17 to December 5. Major John Poole, Senior Training Safety Officer at Castlemartin, said: 'Castlemartin provides vital training for our armoured units. We are grateful to the local community for their patience and ongoing support.' Firing notices will be posted locally and are available online by visiting and searching 'Castlemartin firing notices'.
Scotsman
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Starmer must do much more to put UK in state of 'war-fighting readiness'
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... At the BAE Systems' shipyard in Govan, Keir Starmer said words that should not be brushed aside as the usual political rhetoric: 'We are moving to war-fighting readiness.' His government's aim, he stressed, was to create 'a battle-ready, armour-clad nation'. "When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready, and frankly, to show them that we're ready to deliver peace through strength.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He spoke after Germany's defence chief General Carsten Breuer told the BBC that analysts studying Russia's manufacturing of weapons had identified 'an intent and... a build up of the stocks' for a possible future attack on Nato members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania within four years. However he added: 'If you ask me now, is this a guarantee that's not earlier than 2029? I would say no, it's not. So we must be able to fight tonight," Breuer said. Prince William rides in a Challenger 2 tank while visiting British forces at the Tapa army base in northern Estonia in March (Picture: Raigo Pajula) | AFP via Getty Images Six new munitions factories Such warnings should make it clear that Russia's war on Ukraine is far from the limit of Vladimir Putin's ambitions for military conquest. And, in the face of such threats, Nato must remain united in its determination to regard an attack on one as an attack on all, despite Donald Trump calling that crucial concept into question. The government's plans include spending £15 billion on nuclear warheads, ordering up to 12 more attack submarines and up to 7,000 long-range weapons, and opening at least six new munitions factories, with defence spending increasing to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2027 and 3 per cent during the next parliament. This will be a drain on stretched Treasury funds, but the extra work for Scottish and UK defence industry firms should provide the grim solace of a 'war dividend' for the economy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Western Telegraph
29-05-2025
- General
- Western Telegraph
Army announce three large scale exercises at Castlemartin
The Royal Tank Regiment Battlegroup will kick off the exercises from June 9 to June 27, followed by the Queen's Royal Hussars Battlegroup from October 13 to November 7. The Royal Welsh Battlegroup will conclude the exercises from November 17 to December 5. The exercises are crucial for the units involved, providing vital training for the Royal Tank Regiment, the Queen's Royal Hussars, and the Royal Welsh. The Royal Tank Regiment, the oldest tank unit in the world, and the Queen's Royal Hussars, the British Army's senior armoured regiment, both operate the Challenger 2 main battle tank. The Royal Welsh is an armoured infantry regiment with roots dating back to 1689. Castlemartin Training Area is large enough for live-firing, tactical battlegroup-level exercises involving multiple armoured fighting vehicles. It plays a key role in maintaining full training capability for units within the UK. The exercises will see the training area used by hundreds of personnel and require the transportation of numerous heavy vehicles, including Challenger 2 tanks, to and from the area. This will begin during the preparation phase, approximately a week prior to the start of each exercise, and may cause some travel delays to local traffic. The exercises will also involve live firing from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm and night firing on Monday to Thursday between 8pm and 3am. These times are the earliest and latest that firing can take place and on some days it is expected that firing will not take place for these full times. Disturbances to local residents will be kept to a minimum and firing times will be published widely within the local community to help minimise disruption. Senior training safety officer for Castlemartin, Major John Poole, said: "Castlemartin Training Area provides essential training opportunities for large scale exercises, such as this, which support the training of military personnel from multiple units. "We remain grateful to the local population for their continued support." The public can find out more about the exercise by visiting the UK Government website and searching Castlemartin firing notices.
Sky News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Prince William joins British troops in Challenger 2 tank on visit to Estonia
The Prince of Wales has joined troops in a Challenger 2 tank as he visited UK soldiers on a NATO base less than 100 miles from the Russian border. Prince William travelled in the commander's turret of the tank as it sped across muddy terrain at Tapa army camp in Estonia. He watched on as soldiers from the Mercian Regiment took part in training exercises. The Mercians, of which he is colonel-in-chief, have just started their six-month deployment in Estonia as the lead battlegroup working alongside NATO partners. With 900 British service personnel in Estonia, it is the UK's largest permanent overseas deployment. The prince witnessed how soldiers worked to clear trenches, as smoke grenades were set off and blank rounds of gunfire rang out. Earlier, as he oversaw the operational handover between the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercians, he was shown a selection of military vehicles including the Warrior, an infantry fighting vehicle, the Challenger 2 main battle tank, and the multiple launch rocket systems on the parade ground. Later he was allowed to get behind the wheel of an Archer, a mobile artillery vehicle with a weapon range of 50km (31 miles). Speaking to soldiers about his visit, he said: "Hopefully this provides a bit of interest for you all and what you're doing and keeps everyone on their toes." His trip to Tapa Camp was part of a two-day visit on behalf of the UK government, with the prince deployed to show his support to Estonia, to Ukraine and the UK's commitment to NATO. The visit has been in the planning for six months, but its timing couldn't feel more significant amid the ongoing threats from Russia, discussions of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, and Trump's criticisms of NATO. 0:37 Lt Col Grant Brown from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, who was accompanying the prince during the field training exercise, said: "Every week there is something new going on. Our job is to reassure our allies that we are absolutely committed to freedom. And to ensure we are ready to face any threat no matter where that might come from... We are constantly out here training to ensure that we are ready." But aside from his high-level diplomatic role, Prince William wanted to draw attention to the reality of life for those troops expected to be ready to fight at any time. Talking to Estonian troops, one of them told him how they daily think about the close proximity of Russia, with the prince saying: "Yes it must focus the mind". He also spent time talking to British troops about their experiences of deployment and the impact it can have on their mental health. Breaking down the stigma around mental health is a cornerstone of the Prince's official work. British forces are deployed to Estonia and Poland under Operation Cabrit, the UK's contribution to NATO's Forward Land Forces in the two countries, providing a deterrent to Russian aggression.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council welcomes £1.6bn UK defence deal
Telford and Wrekin Council has welcomed news of a £1.6bn government investment in UK defence that is expected to include safeguarding 400 jobs in the town. The five-year contract extension with national defence firm Babcock will cover the maintenance and repair of Challenger 2 tanks, artillery guns and armoured vehicles. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed the deal hours before Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined an increase in defence spending as well as cuts to the welfare bill, in her Spring Statement. Telford is a key hub for defence engineering and supply firms and council leader Lee Carter is looking to build on the authority's "well-established relationship" with the MoD. He said Telford was ready to play its role "in the security of the nation", while the local authority was keen to secure "good quality defence sector jobs for residents". Babcock Chief Executive David Lockwood, said the deal would safeguard 1,600 jobs nationwide and thousands more in the supply chain. Reeves was in Telford on Tuesday, visiting another defence firm Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land Ltd, which has the contract for upgrading Challenger 2 tanks to Challenger 3s. Reeves says her borrowing rules are non-negotiable as forecaster warns plans could be derailed What are the Pip and universal credit changes and who is affected? Speaking to BBC Radio Shropshire, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said the deal with Babcock was a "vote of confidence" in the skills of workers in Telford and further afield. He said it would "help make sure our military units are deployable to meet the challenges we face in this more uncertain world". "Defence can be an engine for growth across the country," he added. Reeves announced on Wednesday that defence spending would rise by an extra £2.2bn next year and reach 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. UK's most lethal tank enters testing Army to get 148 upgraded tanks in £800m deal
