{"id":84281,"date":"2017-09-13T10:41:49","date_gmt":"2017-09-13T10:41:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=cdb7b65ec01ee7439dfbc0de78dae0ff"},"modified":"2017-09-13T10:41:49","modified_gmt":"2017-09-13T10:41:49","slug":"speech-defence-secretary-keynote-speech-at-dsei-2017-13-september","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=84281","title":{"rendered":"Speech: Defence Secretary Keynote Speech at DSEI 2017 \u2013 13 September"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

INTRO: PERIOD OF CHANGE<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a huge pleasure to be back at the world leading DSEI.<\/p>\n

Apart from the fact this exhibition has grown in size and scale, with some 141 international delegates here from 60 countries, it has remained a remarkably stable landmark in an otherwise turbulent world.<\/p>\n

Since last time we were here the UK has had two\u00a0elections and a referendum in which the British people decided\u00a0to leave Europe.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, on the international front we\u2019ve seen North Korea\u00a0threatening nuclear Armageddon, Russia maintaining its aggressive posture, waves of cyber crime like the Wannacry virus\u00a0hit our hospitals and businesses and, touching on our theme today, terror, which has spread across the globe hitting us here in the UK in London and Manchester and recently devastating innocents in Barcelona.<\/p>\n

At the start of the year the Doomsday Clock moved thirty seconds closer to midnight it seems they weren\u2019t exaggerating. As the danger proliferates defence\u2019s stock rises and the demand for the best kit goes through the roof. And today you\u2019ll find us making maximum use of our capability; whether it\u2019s sending HMS Ocean, C-17 and Puma Mk2 helicopters to the Caribbean to support humanitarian efforts in the wake of devastating Hurricane Irma, dispatching our Typhoons to bomb Daesh and protect Black Sea skies or deploying Challenger and Warrior to Estonia to provide critical reassurance to our Eastern European allies.<\/p>\n

In an age of technological marvels and transnational\u00a0threats this level of activity appears to be the new normal, which is why our response is evolving to meet new challenges.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s based around three key elements:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. CHOICE<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The first is choice.<\/p>\n

    We\u2019ve chosen to grow our defence budget by 0.5 per cent each year.<\/p>\n

    In 2015 our forces received some \u00a334bn. In 2016 \u00a335bn. This year it will be \u00a336bn. And next year it will be \u00a337bn. We\u2019re using that money to invest in the full array of high end kit\u00a0across all domains.<\/p>\n

    In the past year you\u2019ll have seen a flood of announcements, from sailing new carriers to naming Dreadnought submarines, from buying Apache attacks helicopters to testing Ajax armoured vehicles and from the arrival of more F35s, to last week\u2019s announcement about future frigates.<\/p>\n

    And our new fifth generation kit offers much more than firepower and protection. These are flying, driving and floating sensors able to soak up information and instantly relay it from the battlefield to the battle station.<\/p>\n

    More than that, capabilities like dreadnoughts and carriers give us both a strategic nuclear\u00a0and a strategic conventional deterrent, ensuring that\u00a0whatever the future holds in the 2040s, 2050s, 2060s, the next generation will have the tools to cope.
    \nInnovative choices<\/p>\n

    But we\u2019re not just choosing to spend\u00a0but choosing to invest in innovation, putting aside \u00a3800m so that by working with industry and academia we have the disruptive capability\u00a0to keep ahead of the curve.<\/p>\n

    Take big data.<\/p>\n

    We\u2019ve given 30 firms a share of \u00a33 million pound to develop machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence so it can crunch all the big data collected by our vehicles and translate it into a four dimensional picture of the battle space.<\/p>\n

    Or there\u2019s the sort of ship\u2019s brain we tested last year. It\u2019s able to root through information and recognise threats in much the same way as a human being recognises fear, allowing the crew to predict where system failure might occur next.<\/p>\n

    Inevitably, such technology triggers dire warnings about the march of machines. But software isn\u2019t a substitute for soldiers, sailors or pilot, it\u2019s there to optimise our time. Computers are simply better at rifling through data and doing mundane tasks.<\/p>\n

    ANNOUNCEMENT: ROBOTIC BOMB DISPOSAL<\/p>\n

    Just as robots are better suited to picking their way through bomb strewn battlefields.<\/p>\n

    That\u2019s why today I can announce we\u2019ve signed a contract worth up to \u00a355m with Harris Corporation for 56 bomb disposal robots. Equipped with high-definition cameras, lightning-fast datalinks, an adjustable manipulation arm and tough all-terrain treads, these sophisticated systems use advanced haptic feedback\u00a0that allows operators to \u2018feel\u2019 their way through the intricate process of disarming potentially the terrorist\u2019s favourite weapon the Improvised Explosive Device from a safe distance.<\/p>\n

    Robots will never replace humans.<\/p>\n

    It takes a soldier to search a house, calm a villager, win hearts and minds in a war zone.<\/p>\n

    But we\u2019re letting the machines take the load so people can get on with hard work of saving lives.<\/p>\n

    ANNOUNCEMENT: ACTIVE PROTECTION SYSTEM<\/p>\n

    At the same time, we\u2019re making sure our troops have the tech to protect themselves in difficult and dangerous situations.<\/p>\n

    So today I can announce Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has placed a \u00a310m contract with Leonardo to improve the survivability and protection of Land Armoured Vehicles, by fitting them with an Active Protection System.<\/p>\n

    This can detect and defeat threat missiles within 100 milliseconds less than half the time it takes a human to react to a visual cue.<\/p>\n

    Providing a shield against Rocket Propelled Grenades and Anti-Tank Guided Weapons.<\/p>\n

    ANNOUNCEMENT: DRAGONFIRE<\/p>\n

    When it comes to weapons we\u2019re also devising some of our own.<\/p>\n

    If you haven\u2019t seen it already allow me to point you in the direction of the naval stand where you\u2019ll find a prototype of Dragonfire a directed energy weapon or laser to the layman.<\/p>\n

    Science fiction\u00a0has become science fact.<\/p>\n

    Even more remarkable we\u2019ve come up with a bit of kit that will appeal as much to the accountant as the warrior because, instead of spending hundreds of thousands on missiles the energy in a high-intensity laser costs pennies.<\/p>\n

    I know you like to try out new capability but I\u2019m afraid this one isn\u2019t a working model.<\/p>\n

    Its state-of-the-art precision targeting system that can knock out a target up to six kilometres away.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019m afraid we couldn\u2019t take the risk of over eager guests pressing the wrong button.<\/p>\n

    But don\u2019t worry Dragonfire will soon be tested on a British warship.<\/p>\n

    You come to DSEI to be wowed and I hope we\u2019ve whetted your appetite.<\/p>\n

    But I don\u2019t want to overdo it so I won\u2019t mention our hover bike that\u2019s being tested on the water\u00a0outside this building.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019ve talked so far about innovative Defence decisions we\u2019ve made that you can actually see here at DSEI.<\/p>\n

    But I haven\u2019t mentioned the way innovation is now influencing Defence below the surface, the way it\u2019s now woven into our tactics, honing our pioneering cyber techniques against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.<\/p>\n

    Nor have mentioned how innovation is transforming our approach in the boardroom.<\/p>\n

    Since the 2015 SDSR international threats have intensified.<\/p>\n

    So, rather than resting on our laurels, we\u2019re currently conducting a National Security Capability Review.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    Defence will be a critical part of this cross-government refresh led by the National Security Adviser.<\/p>\n

    Our aim, across Government, is to ensure that we are implementing the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review in the most effective and efficient way possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    The fact is, though our budget might be rising, so too are demands.<\/p>\n

    That\u2019s why we must keep asking searching questions, re-examining whether we are making the right choices, so we can prioritise the right things.<\/p>\n

    Critically, the UK isn\u2019t alone in going through this process. So too are our closest allies – the United States and France.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. COLLABORATE<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Choice is key to addressing the threat we face.<\/p>\n

      The second aspect of our approach is collaboration.<\/p>\n

      If we\u2019re going to make the most of all our resources we need to do more to work together across the Defence Enterprise.<\/p>\n

      Carrier is a case in point. Built in blocks by over 10,000 people across the UK, before being shipped to Rosyth for assembly, it is a truly co-operative nationwide enterprise.<\/p>\n

      Or consider F35, an\u00a0innovative partnership between\u00a0BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman working alongside our Defence Electronics and Components Agency in Sealand. So successful in its bid that it wasn\u2019t just chosen as the European repair hub for F-35 avionic and aircraft components, but as the\u00a0global\u00a0support provider,\u00a0sustaining hundreds of jobs directly and thousands more high value jobs across the supply chain.<\/p>\n

      From the start the F-35 programme itself has been not simply an exemplar of domestic collaboration, but of international collaboration, where we\u2019re proud to be a Tier One partner with the US, and to build 15 per cent of each and every aircraft.<\/p>\n

      And as Britain\u2019s looks to go global we see our equipment as a platform for stronger partnership.<\/p>\n

      Consider P8 maritime patrol aircraft.<\/p>\n

      A few months ago we struck an agreement with our fellow P8 nations Norway and the US, to pursue closer co-operation on training, logistics, and support and address the changing security environment in the North Atlantic.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. COMPETITION<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        International success brings me to the third element of our new approach to defence competition.<\/p>\n

        I\u2019m a big believer in competition.<\/p>\n

        I know it\u2019s power not just to strengthen our industry and bring in the wealth that benefits the UK, but to bring down prices as well meaning we can afford to buy even more kit.<\/p>\n

        And as we look to life post Brexit and seek to spread our wings across the world, it\u2019s high time we do more to compete for a share of this international export market.<\/p>\n

        We\u2019ve already got an enviable reputation in advanced manufacturing, we\u2019re leaders in intelligent systems, we already build wings for half the world.<\/p>\n

        And the UK continues to perform strongly in the international market, securing defence orders of \u00a35.9bn in 2016, retaining its position as the second largest defence exporter globally over the last ten years<\/p>\n

        But now it\u2019s time to build exportability into our thinking from the off, aligning it with the requirements of international clients, allowing for the open architecture that can plug and play with different bits of capability.<\/p>\n

        In other words, the sort of pioneering approach we\u2019ve adopted with Type 31e.<\/p>\n

        Government has laid out a clear challenge to the sector to design and build five new lighter, General Purpose Frigate to replace the General Purpose variants of our ageing Type 23 Frigates with\u00a0a clear in-service \u2013 of 2023.<\/p>\n

        Type 31e will be flexible and adaptable.<\/p>\n

        The aim is in the name. E\u2026stands for exports<\/p>\n

        Above all we\u2019ve set the price we want each frigates to cost.<\/p>\n

        At no more than\u00a0\u00a3250m.<\/p>\n

        That\u2019s the maximum price.<\/p>\n

        This is a competition.<\/p>\n

        And I want to see great companies competing to lower the cost<\/p>\n

        But it\u2019s also a pathfinder<\/p>\n

        We haven\u2019t built frigates for another country since the 70s<\/p>\n

        We\u2019re changing all that<\/p>\n

        This frigate will rock the exports boat and it\u2019s a model for the way we will approach shipbuilding in future<\/p>\n

        Yet we\u2019re not just focusing our export drive on ships but planes.<\/p>\n

        The UK and its European partners are fully focused on working with industry to maximise Typhoon\u2019s export potential in the worldwide combat air jet market.<\/p>\n

        And the MOD, in particular, are pleased to now be supporting and leading some of those campaigns in Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia, where we believe Typhoon meets the requirements of our international partners.<\/p>\n

        We\u2019ve already seen the first plane delivered to Oman earlier in the year and more orders for Kuwait.<\/p>\n

        And today you\u2019ll see for the first time our\u00a0Land Ceptor missile able to blast high speed, evasive, low signature and complex airborne targets out the sky<\/p>\n

        It\u2019s already in high demand with the\u00a0Italian Army<\/p>\n

        Even as we look to sell more platforms, we\u2019ll continue banging the drum for British systems, from Scotland to Southampton, whether it\u2019s defensive aid suites, digital jammers or laser target designators, whether small satellites or secure communications.<\/p>\n

        So we\u2019ve got high hopes for UK companies.<\/p>\n

        And what better place to bring the message home than DSEI, where the kit is the star of the show and where the globe\u2019s investors gather in one place.<\/p>\n

        All those looking to become exporters will find help at hand.<\/p>\n

        Not only is our Defence Growth Partnership now working with industry to anticipate future market opportunities, but we\u2019re now adopting a Team UK approach, packaging up the vast array of expertise our nation has to offer so that international customers looking for solutions into anything from subsurface systems and synthetic environments to persistent surveillance or information systems, needn\u2019t hunt around for the right contact, but can simply go to our Team UK representatives and get the details they requires.<\/p>\n

        There\u2019s a UK team stall in the hall here today waiting to work with you to face up to the challenges to come.<\/p>\n

        CONCLUSION\u00a0<\/p>\n

        So two years down the line Britain\u2019s transforming its approach.
        \n\u00a0
        \nAnd if you needed convincing that MOD really has changed its style look at the experts who make up our new innovation advisory panel.
        \n\u00a0
        \nThe former owner of a racing car company and an astronaut.
        \n\u00a0
        \nThe message is clear.
        \n\u00a0
        \nThe UK\u2019s moving at pace.<\/p>\n

        And we\u2019re about to hit the heights.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon delivered the keynote speech at the Defence and Security Equipment International 2017 at the Excel Centre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84281"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=84281"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84281\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=84281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=84281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=84281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}