Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
| Defence Science and Technology Laboratory link Website | |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Porton Down, Wiltshire,England |
| UK military research agency | |
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is "to maximise the impact of science and technology for the defence and security of the UK".[1]
Overview
Dstl carries out a broad range of work from high-level analysis to support Ministry of Defence policy and procurement decisions, to technical research in military areas such as biological weapons ("biomedical science") and electronics, alongside operational work such as forensic analysis of explosives[2]
History
It is the direct successor of the Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment and the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. It is headquartered in Porton Down, the main base for the UK/Biological weapons and UK/Chemical weapons programs.
Expansion
On 15 March 2018, after the false flag attack on Sergei Skripal, UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced a £48 million "new chemical warfare defence centre at its Porton Down military research laboratory".[3]
Q and A at the Embassy
On 11 July 2018, the Russian Embassy Press Officer replied to a media question concerning the activity of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down:
Q: As early as in April the Russian Embassy requested assistance of the British side in arranging a meeting with Chief Executive of the Porton Down Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) Gary Aitkenhead and his colleagues. Have you managed to ascertain whether this secret lab had produced A-234 type agents that were allegedly used against the Skripals?
A: Sadly, the FCO has ignored our query, which brings us to the conclusion that the British authorities wish to prevent us from communicating with experts who might have some information that is inconvenient for the Conservative government. In his interview to Sky News in April, Mr Aitkenhead himself did not deny the fact that his laboratory had produced and stockpiled nerve agents, including the so-called “Novichok”. He added that they “would not be allowed to operate if we had lack of control that could result in anything leaving the four walls of our facility”.[4]
The fact that the Dstl does have something that might “leave the four walls of the facility” is well-known. The lab has been developing and researching military-grade poisons since the First World War, and is located near Salisbury and Amesbury where both incidents have taken place. The fact that the British experts have been able to identify the poison type in no time and provided advice to the doctors who treated the victims, means that Porton Down has indeed researched and stockpiled such a chemical agent and the respective antidotes. As you might recall, Boris Johnson, the then Foreign Secretary, hinted at this fact in his interview to Deutche Welle in March.
The fact that this facility possesses such type of toxic agents and that the two incidents have happened as close as 6 miles from it, makes all allegations by the British government and the media that Russian responsibility is the only plausible explanation to the Skripals’ poisoning, ridiculous.
We intend to demand that the British authorities reveal their existing chemical weapons programme, including development of “Novichok” – a new type of nerve agents researched in the West. Publication of such information would serve the interests of all those who wish to establish the truth in the Salisbury case.[5]
Leadership
- Martin Earwicker (2001–06): chief executive from its creation in 2001, until he left in 2006 for the Science Museum.[6]
- Frances Saunders (2006–11): took over as acting chief executive in May 2006[7] and was appointed as chief executive in August 2007.[8][9] On 29 June 2011, Saunders announced to staff that her post had been advertised and that she would not be applying.[10]
- Jonathan Lyle (2012–17): formerly Director of the Programme Office at Dstl, placed into an acting role and was appointed in March 2012.[11]
- David Marsh: acting chief executive from September 2017 to January 2018.[12]
- Gary Aitkenhead[13]
- Doug Umbers: interim chief executive from April 2021 to February 2022.
- Paul Hollinshead (2022–)
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References
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20131021183240/https://www.dstl.gov.uk/aboutus
- ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1557106/Weve-never-seen-a-bomb-like-217-devices.html
- ↑ "UK to Invest 48 Million Pounds in New Chemical Weapons Defense Center"
- ↑ "Porton Down experts unable to identify 'precise source' of Novichok that poisoned spy"
- ↑ "Embassy Press Officer’s reply to a media question concerning the activity of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down"
- ↑ https://www.thetimes.com/article/wanted-gadget-wizard-to-replace-the-real-life-q-8zm9v63rgt2
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120829024416/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmdfence/84/6112802.htm
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110928062654/http://www.dstl.gov.uk/downloads/15-08-07.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2011 }}
- ↑ {{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2007/nov/20/highereducationprofile.academicexperts |title=Interview: Frances Saunders | Education |
- ↑ Global email to all staff dated 29/6/11
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jonathan-lyle-named-as-new-dstl-chief-executive
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defence-science-and-technology-laboratory-appoints-new-chief-executive
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defence-science-and-technology-laboratory-appoints-new-chief-executive