While visiting British forces in Camp Bastion and Lashkar Gah, the Prime Minister praised the success of efforts of UK troops this summer against the Taliban, but said there must be '100 per cent focus' on overcoming the new threats posed by the insurgents' terrorist-style tactics.
During his visit Mr Brown announced a series of ways in which the Government plans to bolster the effort in Afghanistan and further support those on the front line doing the hard fighting and facing the daily danger of roadside bombs, mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These include:
- deploying more specialist personnel with expert skills in finding and defusing IEDs and targeting the networks which lay them;
- boosting surveillance assets to track and target the IED networks;
- increasing offensive operations which take the fight to the Taliban; and
- continuing efforts to increase the number of helicopters and the very best-protected vehicles in theatre.
There have been billions of pounds of investment in equipment for the front line over recent years, but the Prime Minister made clear that continual improvement is necessary to ensure British troops remain among the best equipped in the world and are always one step ahead of the notoriously adaptable Taliban fighters.
Mr Brown said:
"Our forces have defeated the Taliban in every major engagement - but as we have seen they have turned to terrorist tactics and in particular IEDs or mines and roadside bombs.
"These are always hard to defend against and the Americans and other nations are, with us, working hard to overcome this new challenge. I am determined that our forces have every possible support in this."
While 200 dedicated counter-IED experts have already been deployed to Afghanistan this year, along with a major stepping-up of research and analysis back in the UK, a further 200 will be deployed this autumn to support their sophisticated work.
The Prime Minister continued:
"We are making headway, both in finding the IEDs before they explode and in identifying and targeting the bomb-makers and those who finance and direct them.
"The new capabilities that we have deployed and are deploying in the coming months directly support these operations, which are having a significant impact on the ground in Afghanistan."
Throughout his visit, the Prime Minister made clear the importance of the Afghan National Security Forces and the need for them to take a greater responsibility for the security of the country.
In order for their capacity to grow, there will gradually be a rebalancing of our own force structure in order for British forces to prioritise their important partnering and training roles as part of the wider international effort.
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said:
"Nothing takes a higher priority in the Ministry of Defence than supporting front line operations. We have already invested billions of pounds to improve the quality and quantity of vehicles, helicopters and other equipment in theatre, but we can and will do more.
"Our operations in Afghanistan are not discretionary, they are essential for our national security and the protection of our way of life. In order for Britain to be safe, Afghanistan needs to be secure. That is why it is my top priority to do everything we can to support our troops, who are doing this vital job for us."
Amongst the extra support to operations in Afghanistan, next month will see the start of a major uplift in unmanned surveillance aircraft, providing vital real-time intelligence to track and target bomb-makers.
By spring 2010, flying hours will have increased by 33 per cent for Hermes 450, 50 per cent for Desert Hawk and 80 per cent for Reaper. Spring 2010 will also see the arrival of new Mastiff EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) vehicles, complete with cutting-edge counter-IED technology.
To ensure our forces have the best possible protection as they move through high threat areas, an additional 20 Ridgback mine-protected vehicles will be purchased to increase the numbers going into action this autumn, adding to those already in service.
Meanwhile, production of the new Warthog tracked vehicle - an 'up-armoured' version of the Viking, vital for operations in the 'Green Zone' - is being speeded up, meaning they will be fielded six months earlier than planned.
Efforts to increase the number of helicopters in theatre continue, with engineers busy adapting the Merlin fleet for Afghanistan operations. These will be introduced in phases, earlier than planned, in November, December and spring of next year.
Spring 2010 will also see the arrival of two additional Chinooks and work is ongoing to fit new engines to the Lynx helicopters making them suitable for 'hot and high' conditions.