Strategic Command

Defence Medical Services personnel recently visited the Royal Air Force Centre of Aerospace Medicine at RAF Henlow and saw the amazing work happening there to protect the health of pilots and to help them deal with a range of issues, from the potential of decompression at high altitudes, to coping with high G-Force and the disorienting effects of flying in low visibility. We also spoke to personnel and saw some of the incredible research they are doing into developing life support systems, fire-retardant clothing , protective equipment and even in-flight urination devices. #Fascinating and #Inspiring

🇦🇺🤝 🇬🇧Australia is one of the UK’s closest partners. Despite the geographic distance, our countries are united by shared values, strategic priorities, and a deep commitment to maintaining global stability. Sharing knowledge, lessons and insights between our two countries helps strengthen both our security and prosperity. Commander of Strategic Command, General Jim Hockenhull visited our allies in Australia to emphasise and demonstrate the UK’s continued commitment to the region and to AUKUS. Meeting with senior Australian defence and government officials, as well as experts from industry and academia, discussions included: 🌐 How we defend against borderless threats in the cyber domain. 📊 Sharing best practice on the vital digital connectivity and data analysis that underpins everything we do. 📡 Development of advanced capabilities within AUKUS Pillar 2.

🇺🇦🩺The Defence Medical Services, part of Strategic Command, have been delivering vital training to Ukrainian surgeons and nurses, with the latest course focusing on stopping bleeding in combat casualties. 📹Watch the video below to hear more from those taking part. #StandWithUkraine

‘You’ve ran how many marathons dressed as a fruit?’     This #WorldMentalHealthDay, follow Minister Alistair Carns as he goes for a run with veteran and mental health advocate Sally Orange MBE, highlighting the importance of staying active 🏃️ to support mental well-being 🧠💪.  Office for Veterans' Affairs If you're a veteran who wants to find out more about mental health support visit here: https://ow.ly/96gu50TINHP

A warm welcome back to Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov as he returns to London today to discuss ongoing support with John Healey 🇬🇧🤝🇺🇦

🇬🇧🇦🇱Exercise AUSTERE WOLF is a UK led exercise which sees our Permanent Joint Headquarters deploy British Army forces to integrate with Albanian allies; developing operational skills that help us and our NATO allies and partners work together more smoothly. From maritime logistics, to the use of Foxhound vehicles, and amphibious landings, this training proved our ability to reinforce NATO’s commitment to regional security. 🤝Training is ongoing in this region to bolster our joint readiness.

🗓 September held a variety of engagements, achievements, and visits at Strategic Command. From the 10th anniversary of our rapidly deployable Joint Expeditionary Force - JEF, and the launch of Global Strategic Trends 7 which looks at the long-term strategic context in an ever-changing world, through to infrastructure progress on programme APOLLO in Cyprus and our Deputy Commander speaking at important lectures overseas. 👇 Find out more by reading the September edition of our LinkedIn #newsletter.

🌐 📡 This year’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) C4ISR Conference in London included presentations from senior leaders at Strategic Command, who highlighted the growing importance of integrating our command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) in modern defence. Hosted by RUSI, a leading defence and security think tank, the conference provided an important forum for open dialogue among defence and government officials, industry experts, academia, and international partners. The discussions focused on the development and integration of C4ISR capabilities, which are essential for ensuring the UK’s national security and global strength. C4ISR forms the backbone of defence, enabling the critical data fabric, sensors, decision-making, exploitation and targeting tools needed to out-think and out-fight adversaries. Understanding which capabilities must remain sovereign and which can be co-developed with allies is key to building resilience and readiness. Success in future conflict will depend on our ability to sense, understand, decide, and act faster than our adversaries, and events like this help us share the knowledge and ideas to stay ahead.

At the start of the month, we welcomed US counterparts from the US European Command (EUCOM). Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Robert V Abernethy, the Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) was briefed on how we deliver professional military education while visiting our groups/colleges, including: ◾The Joint Services and Command Staff College and the courses delivered, with a focus on HCSC and ACSC. ◾Intermediate Divisions’ command and staff training, as delivered by the Royal Navy and RAF Divisions, and the Land Command and Staff College. ◾Learning Capability and Development group, including an update on Project CODEX and progress with the UK Senior Enlisted Course. ◾Defence College for Military Capability Integration, highlighting the Defence Cyber Academy, the Space Academy and technical courses attended by US service personnel. During the visit CSM Abernethy also met with US directing staff and students currently on courses.

Electric aviation - an exciting greener future. When British Defence Staff based in the USA were offered access to a ground-breaking no emissions aircraft, they jumped at the chance. Vermont-based BETA Technologies has developed Alia, an electric aircraft transforming medical, logisitics and defence capabilities, and invited our defence experts to take a look at the world of possibilities it opens up. “It was a privilege for the team to be hosted by BETA and assess their fully electric aircraft and production facility” says Strategic Command’s Stu Johnson. “The Alia platform - with its conventional and vertical take-off and landing capability - has the potential to be a game-changer for defence utility.” The skies, it seems, are not the limit! The UK is committed to supporting reaching Net Zero by 2050.