Latest news with #RichKnighton
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- 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
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The 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. The married dad-of-two was picked by Sir Kier Starmer over Army Chief General Sir Roly Walker, a former SAS commander. 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. 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.' 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'. 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.' 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 the UK will be forced to ramp up defence spending after Keir refused to commit to funding despite his "battle ready" promise. 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. Nato's chief Mark Rutte has successfully lobbied allies to try and hit Trump's target by spending 3.5 per cent on core defence – including troops, tanks and ships – and 1.5 per cent on security and infrastructure, including spy agencies. France 's President Macron has backed Rutte's demands. And Germany is already on course to hit the target within the next few years. A defence source said Britain's ministers have 'been in denial' about the looming Nato summit and pledges key allies will make. Starmer is expected to discuss the Nato target in a crunch meeting this week. 1 is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
Axios
14-05-2025
- Axios
U.K. rolls out jammer drones to shield F-35 and Typhoon fighters
The U.K. launched StormShroud, drone wingmen designed to blind radars and draw fire away from far pricier, manned aircraft like the F-35 and Typhoon. Why it matters: Human-machine innovation bounds ahead outside the U.S. The Royal Air Force will for the first time "benefit from high-end electronic warfare without needing crew to man it," the defense ministry and prime minister's office said in a joint statement. State of play: StormShroud combines the Tekever AR3 unmanned aerial vehicle with the Leonardo U.K. BriteStorm electronic warfare payload. The AR3 has more than 10,000 hours of flight time in Ukraine. Research and development for the jammer began in 2017. Leonardo said it can also be mounted to missiles. Together, it's the first in a line of autonomous collaborative platforms (ACP) the military is anticipating. Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, chief of the Air Staff, in a statement described StormShroud's arrival as a "seminal moment."
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Phantom' planes to swarm enemy radar before RAF fighter jets attack
Signal-jamming drones that generate 'phantom' aircraft are set to be deployed by the Royal Air Force to protect manned fighter jets from air defences. Swarms of the British-made StormShroud devices, which fly autonomously, will be sent into contested territory ahead of crewed F-35s and Typhoons to create confusion using cutting-edge electronic warfare systems. They are capable of blinding enemy radar or even simulating fake aircraft by creating 'phantom' electronic signatures, helping the real, manned platforms to go undetected. On Friday, the RAF revealed that StormShroud had entered operational service with 216 Squadron, based at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, following a procurement process that lasted just a year. The drone platform is based on Tekever's AR3, which is made in Wales and Southampton, and has been used extensively by Ukrainian forces fighting Russia. The onboard electronic warfare technology, known as BriteStorm, was developed by Leonardo UK engineers in Luton. StormShroud has been rushed into service under the autonomous collaborative platforms programme, which aims to 'revolutionise the RAF's advantage in the most contested battlespaces'. Credit: X/@RoyalAirForce On Friday, Sir Rich Knighton, chief of the air staff, said: 'This is a seminal moment for the RAF to maintain our advantage in air combat and national security. 'The RAF is committed to exploring cutting-edge technologies that can enhance its lethality and survivability in a more contested and dangerous world. 'Autonomous collaborative platforms will revolutionise how we conduct a range of missions, from intelligence gathering to strike and logistical support. 'We are excited to be at the forefront of this innovation and are working closely with industry partners to explore the possibilities.' The RAF said the new capability meant that electronic warfare capabilities could now be deployed without needing to put human pilots at risk, freeing them up for other missions. An initial 24 StormShroud drones have been ordered at a cost of £19m, supporting 200 skilled manufacturing jobs. However, British-Portuguese defence company Tekever said it was preparing to invest £400m over the next five years to expand its UK presence, ahead of further anticipated orders of the AR3 from Britain and its Nato allies. An RAF source said the air force was also likely to order more StormShroud drones and would continue to 'iterate' the platform with Tekever and Leonardo. On Friday, Sir Keir Starmer visited Leonardo's site in Luton to meet staff and discuss the new StormShroud capability. He made the visit against the backdrop of grim results for Labour in the local elections and the by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, where Nigel Farage's Reform UK stormed to victory. The Prime Minister said: 'Investment in our defence is an investment in this country's future. 'Putting money behind our Armed Forces and defence industry is safeguarding our economic and national security by putting money back in the pockets of hard-working British people and protecting them for generations to come. 'Together with our allies, this Government is taking the bold action needed to stand up to Putin and ruthlessly protect UK and European security, which is vital for us to deliver our Plan for Change and improve the lives of working people up and down the country.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
03-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘Phantom' planes to swarm enemy radar before RAF fighter jets attack
Signal-jamming drones that generate 'phantom' aircraft are set to be deployed by the Royal Air Force to protect manned fighter jets from air defences. Swarms of the British-made StormShroud devices, which fly autonomously, will be sent into contested territory ahead of crewed F-35s and Typhoons to create confusion using cutting-edge electronic warfare systems. They are capable of blinding enemy radar or even simulating fake aircraft by creating 'phantom' electronic signatures, helping the real, manned platforms to go undetected. On Friday, the RAF revealed that StormShroud had entered operational service with 216 Squadron, based at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, following a procurement process that lasted just a year. The drone platform is based on Tekever's AR3, which is made in Wales and Southampton, and has been used extensively by Ukrainian forces fighting Russia. The onboard electronic warfare technology, known as BriteStorm, was developed by Leonardo UK engineers in Luton. StormShroud has been rushed into service under the autonomous collaborative platforms programme, which aims to 'revolutionise the RAF's advantage in the most contested battlespaces'. On Friday, Sir Rich Knighton, chief of the air staff, said: 'This is a seminal moment for the RAF to maintain our advantage in air combat and national security. 'The RAF is committed to exploring cutting-edge technologies that can enhance its lethality and survivability in a more contested and dangerous world. 'Autonomous collaborative platforms will revolutionise how we conduct a range of missions, from intelligence gathering to strike and logistical support. 'We are excited to be at the forefront of this innovation and are working closely with industry partners to explore the possibilities.' The RAF said the new capability meant that electronic warfare capabilities could now be deployed without needing to put human pilots at risk, freeing them up for other missions. An initial 24 StormShroud drones have been ordered at a cost of £19m, supporting 200 skilled manufacturing jobs. However, British-Portuguese defence company Tekever said it was preparing to invest £400m over the next five years to expand its UK presence, ahead of further anticipated orders of the AR3 from Britain and its Nato allies. An RAF source said the air force was also likely to order more StormShroud drones and would continue to 'iterate' the platform with Tekever and Leonardo. On Friday, Sir Keir Starmer visited Leonardo's site in Luton to meet staff and discuss the new StormShroud capability. He made the visit against the backdrop of grim results for Labour in the local elections and the by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, where Nigel Farage's Reform UK stormed to victory. The Prime Minister said: 'Investment in our defence is an investment in this country's future. 'Putting money behind our Armed Forces and defence industry is safeguarding our economic and national security by putting money back in the pockets of hard-working British people and protecting them for generations to come. 'Together with our allies, this Government is taking the bold action needed to stand up to Putin and ruthlessly protect UK and European security, which is vital for us to deliver our Plan for Change and improve the lives of working people up and down the country.'
