Latest news with #Knighton
The Irish Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
First non-pilot to lead RAF is picked to command all three armed forces
THE first non-pilot to lead the RAF has been picked to command all three armed forces. Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton – a career engineer and 'defence bureaucrat' – will take over as Chief of the Defence Staff this autumn. Advertisement 3 The married dad-of-two was picked by Sir Kier Starmer over Army Chief General Sir Roly Walker, a former SAS commander Credit: AFP 3 Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton will take over as Chief of the Defence Staff this autumn Credit: @UK MoD Crown Copright 2024 3 The career engineer and 'defence bureaucrat' with Captain Paddy Hemingway.103, at Casement Air base Baldonnel near Dublin Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun The married dad-of-two was picked by Knighton's only combat tour, according to his official bio, was 'a short stint as Senior Engineer Officer in Italy during the Kosovo campaign'. But he launched the RAF's Tempest plan to get a sixth generation fighter jet which is the government's flagship defence project. Pals insisted Knighton – who earned a 1st Class engineering degree from Cambridge University – was the perfect candidate for implementing Labour's defence reforms. Advertisement They said: 'Rich is smart, popular and really good at getting sh*t done and he has bucket loads of integrity.' They added: 'For the hard yards of implementing a defence review, there's no one better to role up his sleeves hand get on with it. 'Naysayers would say his background is as engineer, he is a proper defence bureaucrat. 'There is no doubt Roly had a more operational experience but Rich will have plenty of people around him who can advise on that.' Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive They were both on long list of four which included the first ever woman, General Dame Sharon Nesmith, and spychief General Jim Hockenhull. ACM Knighton, 56, will replace Admiral Sir Tony Radakin as the professional head of the forces and the PM's top military advisor. He will also take direct command of the Army, Navy and Air Force under a newly formed Military Strategic Headquarters. He joined the RAF as university cadet in 1988 and describes himself as 'a keen skier and a below-average sportsman who would like to do more sailing'. Advertisement He maintains a 'private pilots license' and is president of the RAF Powerlifting, Winter Sports and Hockey clubs. Originally from Derbyshire, he lives with his lawyer wife Caitlin in Cambridge. Speaking before the appointment Knighton said engineering had shaped his style of leadership. His told a local newspaper: 'As an engineer in the air force, you are never, at any point, the leading expert in a thing. You rely on the advice of your technicians and your experts, and then you pull together that information, and you make a decision.' Advertisement He described himelf as an optimist ands said: 'Nobody wants to work for a miserable bastard.' He added: "I'm very much a glass-half-full kind of character. I get a great deal of energy from working with other people. I've learned in my career that optimism and energy are infectious.' An MoD spokesperson said: 'This is speculation. The appointment process is ongoing and any announcement will be made in the usual way.' This comes as Advertisement Labour's pledge to 'lead in Nato' would be blown to smithereens if Britain is left behind, a top defence insider said. Top Brass have been baffled by Kier Starmer's refusal to say when he will hit Labour's target of spending 3 per cent. The PM vowed to get Britain "battle ready" yesterday with new doomsday nukes and robotic fighter jets – but refused to say how he will fund it. Donald Trump has demanded allies spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence – and he has threatened to abandon nations that fail to pay their way. Advertisement Nato's chief And A defence source said Britain's ministers have 'been in denial' about the looming Nato summit and pledges key allies will make. Advertisement Starmer is expected to discuss the Nato target in a crunch meeting this week. A defence source said: 'Do we want to be lumped with Spain as the only allies that are complaining?' At the launch a landmark Strategic Defence Review Defence Secretary 'We will end the hollowing out of our Armed Forces and lead in a stronger, more lethal Nato.' Advertisement Labour has pledged to increase defence spending from 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent by 2027. Starmer said: 'We have set the ambition to reach 3 per cent in the next Parliament, subject to economic and fiscal conditions.' But pressed on what that meant, he said: 'I'm not going to indulge in the fantasy politics of simply plucking dates from the air.' Defence Secretary Healey said the 3 per cent target was a "certainty". Advertisement But he backtracked 24-hours later, insisting it was merely an "ambition". Britain's three biggest weapons programmes – including the Trident 2 nuclear deterrent, the new sixth generation fighter jets and new hunter killer submarines – will cost at least 3 per cent of GDP, a former defence minister told The Sun. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Read more on the Irish Sun is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Advertisement Like us on Facebook at
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Check out the Royal Air Force's new StormShroud drone made to jam enemy radars and clear the way for F-35s and Typhoon fighters
The UK just unveiled a new drone designed to operate alongside F-35s and Typhoons. The drone, called StormShroud, will jam enemy radars so the fighter jets can operate more freely. It comes as the UK and others, including the US, look to integrate drones with crewed aircraft. The British Royal Air Force unveiled a new drone on Friday that's designed to jam enemy radars in combat to clear a path for F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to operate freely. The RAF wrote in a statement that the new drone, called StormShroud, is now in operational service and is the first in a new family of autonomous systems that will fight alongside crewed platforms. It said StormShroud will support the UK's F-35B and Typhoon pilots "by blinding enemy radars, which increases the survivability and operational effectiveness of our crewed aircraft." It added that uncrewed systems are not new to the UK and this drone was made by taking lessons from the war in Ukraine and other conflicts. Among the aircraft the drone can support, the F-35B is a fifth-generation stealth aircraft made by US defense contractor Lockheed Martin; the UK operates them from the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. And the Eurofighter Typhoon is a fourth-generation multi-role fighter manufactured by a consortium of European companies. The RAF said the delivery of the StormShroud "marks a significant step" in efforts to blend autonomous systems into front-line operations. The drone's platform — the Tekever AR3 — is made in two locations in the UK and will carry Leonardo UK's BriteStorm electronic warfare payload that can jam the radars of enemy air defenses, creating openings for crewed aircraft to engage in combat missions. StormShroud is part of the UK's Autonomous Collaborative Platforms strategy. This effort is centered on having crewed and autonomous systems operating together to reduce pilot risk in hostile environments by relying on flexible and cost-effective systems, like drones. The US has a similar initiative to the UK's ACP called the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The US has tested "loyal wingman" drones alongside its F-35s, and there is an expectation that the coming sixth-gen F-47 will fly with CCAs. "This is a seminal moment for the RAF to maintain our advantage in Air Combat and national security," Air Chief Marshal Rich Knighton, the chief of the air staff, said in a statement. Knighton said the RAF is committed to pursuing cutting-edge technologies that can enhance the force's "lethality and survivability in a more contested and dangerous world," explaining that "autonomous collaborative platforms will revolutionize how we conduct a range of missions, from intelligence gathering to strike and logistical support." The RAF said conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East show that drones have majorly changed modern warfare, both for offensive and defensive missions. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
02-05-2025
- Business Insider
Check out the Royal Air Force's new StormShroud drone made to jam enemy radars and clear the way for F-35s and Typhoon fighters
The British Royal Air Force unveiled a new drone on Friday that's designed to jam enemy radars in combat to clear a path for F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to operate freely. The RAF wrote in a statement that the new drone, called StormShroud, is now in operational service and is the first in a new family of autonomous systems that will fight alongside crewed platforms. It said StormShroud will support the UK's F-35B and Typhoon pilots "by blinding enemy radars, which increases the survivability and operational effectiveness of our crewed aircraft." It added that uncrewed systems are not new to the UK and this drone was made by taking lessons from the war in Ukraine and other conflicts. Among the aircraft the drone can support, the F-35B is a fifth-generation stealth aircraft made by US defense contractor Lockheed Martin; the UK operates them from the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. And the Eurofighter Typhoon is a fourth-generation multi-role fighter manufactured by a consortium of European companies. The RAF said the delivery of the StormShroud "marks a significant step" in efforts to blend autonomous systems into front-line operations. The drone's platform — the Tekever AR3 — is made in two locations in the UK and will carry Leonardo UK's BriteStorm electronic warfare payload that can jam the radars of enemy air defenses, creating openings for crewed aircraft to engage in combat missions. StormShroud is part of the UK's Autonomous Collaborative Platforms strategy. This effort is centered on having crewed and autonomous systems operating together to reduce pilot risk in hostile environments by relying on flexible and cost-effective systems, like drones. The US has a similar initiative to the UK's ACP called the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The US has tested "loyal wingman" drones alongside its F-35s, and there is an expectation that the coming sixth-gen F-47 will fly with CCAs. Introducing a new uncrewed aircraft into service: StormShroud. The first of a new family of Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs), this will revolutionise the RAF's advantage in the most contested battlespaces. Full story: — Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) May 2, 2025 "This is a seminal moment for the RAF to maintain our advantage in Air Combat and national security," Air Chief Marshal Rich Knighton, the chief of the air staff, said in a statement. Knighton said the RAF is committed to pursuing cutting-edge technologies that can enhance the force's "lethality and survivability in a more contested and dangerous world," explaining that "autonomous collaborative platforms will revolutionize how we conduct a range of missions, from intelligence gathering to strike and logistical support." The RAF said conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East show that drones have majorly changed modern warfare, both for offensive and defensive missions.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Yahoo
Former MGH medical assistant convicted of sexually assaulting patients
A former medical assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital accused of sexually assaulting patients was found guilty by a jury in Suffolk Superior Court Monday. Damien Knighton sat in the Suffolk County Superior courtroom Monday afternoon as the jury delivered 6 guilty counts for indecent assault and battery and one not guilty verdict. Knighton was a medical assistant at Back Bay Medical Center, which is affiliated with Mass General Hospital. The victims said he tricked them into going into exam rooms with him alone for further examinations. 25 Investigates spoke with a man, identified as 'M' who said his trust was violated when Knighton placed him in an exam room and then, under the guise of it being medically necessary, touched him inappropriately and sexually abused him. 25 Investigates: Man allegedly sexually assaulted by medical assistant suing Mass General Hospital 'M' was there in January 2023 for a routine check-up. He saw his doctor and got some lab work. Then he says he was approached by a staff member, he assumed was a nurse or doctor, who said he needed to return to an exam room and told him to undress. 'So, he starts patting my legs, examining my skin and all the way up,' 'M' says. 'M' says the staffer was seemingly examining his skin then proceeded to fondle his genital area. At the time, was trusting that it was medically necessary. 'I think if he stopped there, the chances are I would have just gone home,' says 'M'. 25 Investigates pulled criminal indictments indicating the staffer didn't stop there. 'M' says he proceeded to do a rectal exam, twice. 'He made a comment like, 'we do this, or we ask questions like this because, to determine if you're taking Viagra or Cialis. And I said, and I don't. And then I think he was done.' He says the person cleaned him with a paper towel and told him he could go. 'As soon as I'm walking outside, I don't know. I started feeling a little bit weird,' says 'M'. He says he was in shock but still reported what happened to both medical office staff and Boston Police before he even left the office. As the investigation unfolded, 'M' discovered Knighton, was a medical assistant, someone not authorized to conduct any type of exam. 'M' sued MGH, claiming the institution allowed '…their employees unfettered access to vulnerable patients without direct supervision, oversight, or monitoring.' Once convicted, the judge revoked his bail conditions. He will be sentenced on March 14th. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
Jurors find Miami Gardens man, former Iraq war vet, not guilty of trying to kill girlfriend
A Miami Gardens man who admitted to shooting his girlfriend at least five times in the legs and stomach was found not guilty by jurors Friday after testifying that he believed she was reaching for a gun inside a purse on the couch next to her. Jurors determined that Gayle Blount, 55, was not guilty of attempted murder a day after a prosecutor admitted she erred in telling jurors there was no purse on the couch next to Bridget Knighton when she was shot four years ago. That there was no gun inside Knighton's purse didn't seem to matter to jurors who accepted Blount's testimony that he fired his weapon in self-defense. During closing arguments Thursday, defense attorneys showed blown up still frames of the purse on the couch, amplifying the prosecutor's error. 'The defendant is to be released immediately,' Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Ellen Sue Venzer said after the verdict was read, prompting a quick shout of joy in the courtroom. Blount, dressed in a blue suit, hugged his attorneys after the verdict. Outside the courtroom Knighton said she was stunned. 'Where in the world can somebody shoot you eight times while you sat on a sofa and be able to walk out the door,' Knighton said before a row of TV cameras. 'I'm just in shock.' If not for a decision by the judge earlier in the week, Blount would likely have been sent to prison for two decades. Before the trial began, the Iraqi war veteran had accepted an offer from the state to serve 20 years in prison. But Judge Venzer vacated Blount's guilty plea and ordered a trial. She said she was unaware of the amount of violence in the relationship and some of the elements of the shooting. Knighton told investigators the couple had been in a rocky and often abusive relationship almost since it began in 2017. She said that no matter where she went, Blount was able to find her. She said Blount even insisted on sleeping with an AR-15 between them in bed. And she said the only reason she stayed with him was because he threatened to harm her grandchildren. She argued on the stand that she feared Blount would kill her. Blount also took the stand during trial. He testified that Knighton repeatedly threatened him. She called police several times on the day she was shot in May of 2021. Police said they heard the gunfire as they were arriving and found Knighton shot in the legs and stomach on a floor in the apartment. Jurors were told the shooting happened the day after the couple had a blowout argument about Blount playing the television too loud as Knighton tried to sleep. 'I was just trying to stop a threat,' Blount told jurors while testifying, according to WTVJ Channel 6.
