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Afghanistan: Helmand Province

Answer

UK Armed Forces use a combination of equipment, procedures and intelligence to mitigate against the risk posed by improvised explosive devices and suicide bombings. Full details cannot be provided owing to operational security but I can outline the approach. UK forces deployed on operations are equipped with suitable equipment—including personal protection and armoured vehicles—for the job in hand. All personnel deploy with enhanced combat body armour as standard, and enhanced, fit-for-purpose body armour is available for higher risk tasks such as top cover sentry duty on vehicles. In addition, the Defence Secretary announced enhancements to the armoured fleet including 100 additional VECTOR patrol vehicles, which afford greater protected mobility. (Official Report, cols. 74-77, 24 July). Electronic countermeasures on vehicles are constantly being developed to counter the threats identified and we constantly engage with industry to identify better capability. Our forces undertake comprehensive pre-deployment training on tactics, techniques and procedures to counter the threats they may face. We constantly seek to improve these measures as the threat evolves. Crucial to the methods we employ is intelligence on the emerging threats and we work closely with coalition partners to share such intelligence and identify methods best suited to counter the likely threat. While we do our utmost to mitigate the risk our forces face, we cannot eliminate the threat posed by suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

821; 688 c58-9WA

Session

2006-07

Subjects

Armed forces Bombings Explosives Protection Peacekeeping operations Suicide Afghanistan

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk