BFBS Sitrep

Nato agrees to three thousand extra troops for their training mission in Afghanistan – but where will they come from? We feature a special report about British troops training soldiers in war-torn Somalia. What will be the role of Artificial Intelligence in future conflicts? And, what if social media had existed during the First World War?  An insight to a unique project allows us to eavesdrop…….find out more in today’s Sitrep.

Sir Michael Fallon has resigned from the top job at the Ministry of Defence..and the former Chief Whip Gavin Williamson will take his place as the new Secretary of State for Defence. Sitrep examines Fallon’s legacy and looks at the issues facing the new defence secretary ahead of a mini defence review & an important NATO meeting. Join Tim Cooper and special guests in a special edition of Sitrep.

Can Britain afford to have its own defence industry?   Catalonia seeks independence from Spain but still wants to be in NATO,   Minehunting off the coast of Scotland for Exercise Joint Warrior,   And returning from the hurricanes, RAF Brize Norton welcomes back Op Ruman's air crews.     TOPICS   DEFENCE CUTS Editor of Defence Analysis Francis Tusa & BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee .   CATALAN DEFENCE James Hasik is a senior fellow in the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security.   EXERCISE JOINT WARRIOR BFBS Reporter Rosie Laydon & BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.   OP RUMAN RETURN BFBS Reporter Alex Gill.   REMEMBRANCE – THE QUEEN BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.   THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases   You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web & App in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum). On Sky Channel 0211. Alternatively - listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.  

  Defence spending – do we spend the right amount on the right equipment?   NATO troops could be out of Afghanistan within four years...that’s the prediction from the country's President.   Could a growing cadet force be the answer to the forces recruitment problem?   And.... how 3D printing could be the next big thing in winning wars.    Guests: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee     TOPICS   DEFENCE SPENDING Pete Sandeman, Director of the online campaign "Save The Royal Navy" & Ben Moores  - a Defence and Aviation Analyst from IHS Janes.                        AFGHANISTAN BBC's Justin Rowlatt, who’s interviewed The Afghan President, Ashraf Ghan.   CADETS BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee   3D Printing BFBS Reporter Hannah King

North Korea: How close are we to actual war? The battle for Raqqa  - what happens when ISIS are defeated? The fight for Kurdish independence – what does it mean for the Middle East? Nato’s international rescue for Submarines… And, after 90 years the White Helmets wave goodbye……………

  Trump’s speech to the UN – why it’s a game-changer… Is the Ministry of Defence considering reducing the size of the Royal Marines? Three years of Op Shader, Sitrep goes behind the scenes at Al Udeid? British Forces are suffering from a recruitment crisis – so should we bring back national service? Guests: Former Director General of the Royal United Services Institute Professor Michael Clarke. TOPICS TRUMP/UN Former Director General of the Royal United Services Institute Professor Michael Clarke. HURRICANE MARIA Forces News reporter Rebecca Ricks on board RFA Mount Bay. ROYAL MARINES - CUTS Major General Julian Thompson, former RM commander, Deborah Haynes the Defence Editor at The Times and former Director General of the Royal United Services Institute Professor Michael Clarke. AL UDEID /OP SHADER Forces News reporter  Simon Newton goes behind the scenes. CONSCRIPTION Elisabeth Braw, a non-resident Senior fellow at the Atlantic Council & former Director General of the Royal United Services Institute Professor Michael Clarke.

  Russia’ playing war-games in the East to fight the West, but what’s the reason for the Exercises?   British troops arrive in the Caribbean for Op Ruman.   And…..improvements inside the warrior armoured vehicle and more from the world's biggest military fair.   Guests: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.   TOPICS   EX ZAPAD General Sir Richard Shireff, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, the writer on Russian affairs Mary Dejevsky and our defence analyst Christopher Lee.   HURRICANE BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.   DEFENCE EXHIBITION - DESI BFBS reporter Grace Pascoe interview with the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Philip Jones.   WARRIOR- DESI BFBS presenter Richard Hutchinson's had a tour from Lockheed Martin's Phillipa Tredgett, a human factors design engineer.   SECURE MESSAGING APP BFBS presenter Mike Howarth spoke to David Holman, Company Director of Armour Comms who made the app.   THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases   You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web & App in the UK and on FM in Scotland, Colchester, Salisbury Plain, Aldershot, Catterick & Blandford Forum) On Sky Channel 0211. Alternatively listen again on the website, or download the Sitrep Podcast.

 North Korea – the threat continues but what can the international community do, and more importantly – what should China do?   Shipbuilding gains pace so but who’s going to man the ships?   And…..have you ever wondered how GCHQ started?  The Sitrep spies have been to investigate……….

North Korea - Has Kim Jong Un....crossed the line?   A former Chief of the Defence Staff, tells us why we need to keep in with the US post-Brexit.   More troops for Afghanistan...should the UK answer Donald Trump's call for help?   Plus, what is the definition of war? Have the goalposts been shifted?   And remembering Princess Diana, and one of her legacies - to rid the world of landmines.     TOPICS   Guests: BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.   NORTH KOREA From the Times, Michael Evans, & BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.   WHAT IS WAR? Michael Evans, & BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.   BREXIT LORD RICHARDS, Chief of the Defence Staff   LIBYA former Ambassador to Libya, Oliver Miles.   PRINCESS DIANA LEGACY BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee.

On this week’s Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau, we have a special look at Afghanistan following Donald Trump’s speech on his new strategy for the war. We look at what it means for Afghanistan, America and the UK plus we discuss whether putting more boots on the ground will make a significant difference. We speak to Emily Winterbotham (RUSI), Michael Kugelman (Woodrow Wilson Center), Emily Knowles (Oxford Research Group) and Paul Rogers (University of Bradford).