This in from the office of Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely. Ed
MP Bob Seely has told Parliament he will meet with a defence minister soon to discuss a new radar technology demonstrator at BAE Systems’ facility in Cowes.
Speaking the Commons during a defence debate, Bob said the Government must look more closely at procurement and look to buy from abroad, but also develop world-class kit over the next 50 years.
Technology demonstrator needed
He told MPs,
“I will seek a meeting with the Minister in the near future to discuss the need for a complex radar technology demonstrator at the BAE site in Cowes in my constituency.
“The BAE radar factory in Cowes produces all the radars for the carriers and the Type 45 destroyers. If we want our own indigenous radar capability, we need that technology demonstrator soon.”
Having the demonstrator could help expand technological excellence and highly-skilled jobs on the Island.
Support needed for reservists
During his speech, Bob also paid tribute to Island reservists who had saved their unit. He told MPs he is now a reservist and was a soldier who had taken part on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We need reservists, but let us also support them. The reserve unit on the Isle of Wight was saved, not through the MOD’s wisdom, but thanks to the remarkable work of Captain Richard Clarke and the continuing leadership of Acting Sergeant Matt Symans…It is individuals punching above their weight who are saving units from closure.”
Soft power, hard power and cyber power
He also added that the government needs to focus on many different forms of power, including aid, to have a good defence strategy.
He told Parliament,
“We need soft power, hard power and cyber power, but most of all we need an attitude of smart and integrated power.
“We need to study and understand how to project that smart power at a strategic, operational and tactical level. From what I have seen on operations and here at home, we still lack that, but it is not unachievable if the Government have the ambition.”
Image: © BAE Systems
