Current Events in Europe

From DefenseNews Russian Navy to Start Sorties in Atlantic-Tass REUTERS, MOSCOW Russia’s navy said on Wednesday it would start sorties in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, the latest move by an increasingly assertive Moscow to demonstrate its military might. “The aim of the sorties is to ensure a naval presence in tactically important regions of the world ocean,” Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov told President Vladimir Putin, according to a transcript of the meeting supplied by the Kremlin. Buoyed by huge oil revenues, Russia under Putin has been boosting military spending while at the same time using diplomacy to broaden Moscow’s influence. Earlier …

From DefenseNews Posted 04/02/07 16:52 Norway, Navantia Spar Over Frigate Cost, Quality By GERARD O’DWYER, HELSINKI Norway’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) says it is hopeful but not “overly optimistic” that it will soon resolve a dispute with Spanish shipyard Navantia over the cost and quality of five Fridtjof Nansen frigates ordered by the Navy, an MoD official said. At a budgeted cost of $3 billion, the five-frigate project is Norway’s most expensive naval asset contract ever. The delivery schedule, agreed in 2000, calls for Navantia to hand over one new 5,100-ton frigate to the Navy each year from spring 2006 through 2010. Each frigate is designed to accommodate…

Eshera - Russia's secret military base? By M. Alkhazashvili TheMessenger Weeks after the signing of the agreement about the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia, sensational information about the existence of a secret Russian submarine base in Abkhazia has surfaced. The submarine base is alleged to be found in Eshera, a town in the breakaway republic of Abkhazia. This information can not be verified by Georgian officials, as Georgian representatives are barred from entering the territory of Abkhazia. Rumors have long circulated about the existence of a Russian military base in Eshera. Current reports about the existence of the base are being c…

The Harrier GR.9s took their last flight today, ending with some of the aircraft doing literal "bows" before they landed. I'll see if I can link to some footage up later.

The main body of this is published tomorrow.

From BBC News Page last updated at 12:55 GMT, Monday, 16 February 2009 Nuclear subs collide in Atlantic A Royal Navy nuclear submarine was involved in a collision with a French nuclear sub in the middle of the Atlantic, the MoD has confirmed. HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant were badly damaged in the crash in heavy seas earlier this month. First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said the submarines came into contact at low speed and no injuries were reported. Both the UK and France insisted nuclear security had not been breached. Despite being equipped with sonar, it seems neither vessel spotted the other, the BBC's Caroline Wyatt said. Our …

BBC News story; Video of the last departure and some reaction from the crew The end of an era.

From Aviation Week A400M Problems Range Far Beyond Engines Jan 23, 2009 By Jens Flottau PARIS – Airbus is facing much more than just contractual and schedule challenges in its A400M military airlifter program, as the aircraft may need massive re-engineering work to achieve its performance targets. In turn, numerous issues threaten to make the A400M a less attractive and capable aircraft for its customers, industry sources tell Aviation Week. They come in addition to the well-publicized delays in the flight-test program that are linked to the lagging engine full authority digital engine control (FADEC) development (Aerospace DAILY, Nov. 25, 2008). One key…

A thread for events related to the ongoing racket in Ukraine. Russian Fleet Poses No Threat to Ukraine Senior Official (RIA Novosti) Ukraine Accuses Russian Soldiers in Crimea of 'Invasion' (RIA Novosti) Yanukovych Escorted to Russia By Fighter Jets – Report (RIA Novosti) Russian Lawmakers Push to Simplify Annexing New Territories (RIA Novosti)

If any scenario creator is looking to put together scenarios depicting the evolving situation in Ukraine, I can offer the following information to assist: Spotted yesterday morning off Finnmark by a Norwegian P-3C Orion: Project 1164 (NATO Slava) class missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov, Project 1155 (NATO Udaloy) class destroyer Admiral Kulakov, Project 22350 (NATO Admiral Gorshkov) class frigate Admiral Kasatonov, a Project REF-675 (NATO Kaliningradneft) class tanker Vyazma and Project 712 (NATO Sliva) class rescue tug SB-406. Already in the Mediterranean, Project 864 (NATO Vishnya) intel collector Vasiliy Tatischev. Enroute to the Med, having passed th…

Hi, Was at Portsmouth naval base this morning and got some close up looks at HMS Dauntless and Dragon, Lot of work going on around the main mast of Dauntless and I notice neither ship currenetly had Phalanx mounted. I guess this will happen just before deployment down South. As an aside I took a photo of some equipment just aft of the Sea Viper Launchers. I think I've seen something similar before, however wonder if any of you guys could tell me what it is...... survival equipment / decoys / storage / etc. The picture can be seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/77383808@N08/...73009/lightbox/ Regards... Roger

Russia to revive bomber patrols Putin says Moscow to resume practice ended with Soviet Union's collapse The Associated Press Updated: 9:47 a.m. ET Aug 17, 2007 MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he had ordered the military to resume regular long-range flights of strategic bombers, news agencies reported, returning to a practice that ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Speaking as Russian and Chinese forces held major war games exercises for the first time on Russian territory, Putin said a halt in long-range bombers’ flights after the Soviet collapse had affected Russia’s security as other nations had continued such missions — an oblique …

CV32: Yes, yes, we hear this all the time from the Russian Navy, and yes, work has stopped and started before, and yes, its ambitious, and yes, its probably unlikely in the long run, but a refit with P-800 Yakhont (SS-N-26 Sapless), a naval version of S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler) and other modern weaponry is an impressive ambition. At least on paper. From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

From RIA Novosti Russia's next-generation warplane to make maiden flight in 2009 19:51 | 21/ 01/ 2009 ASTRAKHAN, January 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's first fifth-generation warplane will make its maiden flight before the end of this year, the deputy prime minister in charge of arms procurement said on Wednesday. "We expect the plane to take to the skies no later than the end of this year," Sergei Ivanov told a news conference after a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission. Earlier plans set 2010 for the first tests of the new fighter, which will feature high maneuverability and stealth to ensure air superiority and precision in destroying ground and…

From ARES Blog Submerged IDAS Missile Firing is Milestone for Undersea Warfare Posted by Joris Janssen Lok at 5/30/2008 7:39 AM CDT A German navy submarine has achieved a major milestone in undersea warfare by successfully test firing a fiber-optically-guided IDAS (Interactive Defense and Attack system for Submarines) missile from a submerged position yesterday. The test was performed by the U33, the third of Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems-built U 212 class of air-independent propulsion submarines, in the western part of the Baltic Sea May 29. IDAS, developed by a consortium of Diehl Defence [the missile], TKMS (HDW) [submarine integration] and No…

Russian Strategic Forces Blog How long these due to remain in service for?

From Defense Aerospace Changes to Royal Navy's Surface Fleet Announced (Source: U.K Ministry of Defence; issued December 15, 2010) Changes to the Royal Navy's surface fleet, including the withdrawal from service of HMS Illustrious and the four remaining Type 22 frigates, have been announced today by Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox. The changes follow announcements regarding the Royal Navy's surface fleet in the White Paper 'Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review' published on 19 October. In a written ministerial statement to parliament today, Dr Fox said that HMS Illustrious will be withdrawn from service in 201…

From Defense Aerospace “You Are Going to Build Two BPCs” (Source: French Ministry of Defence; issued July 23, 2010) (Issued in French only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com) The French head of state [President Nicolas Sarkozy] told employees of the STX shipyards that they would build the imminent Russian order. The procurement contract for two ships of the Mistral-class is to be signed by year-end. “Together with our Russian friends, you are going to build two Mistral-class BPCs (Bâtiments de Projection et de Commandement). We are negotiating the contract, bt the final decision to go ahead is certain,” the President told employees of the STX s…

From Ares Spain's Aircraft Carrier Begins Air-naval Certification Campaign Posted by Christina Mackenzie at 2/14/2011 9:28 AM CST The Juan Carlos I, Spain's amphibious aircraft carrier launched on September 30, 2010, is undergoing year-long sea trials and last week started the process of gaining its air-naval certification. The first helicopter landed aboard on February 8 at 10:51. Other helicopters from the 6th Squadron (Hughes 500) and the 3rd Squadron (AB-212) then followed. Commander Emilio Aceña Medina brings his helicopter in to land on the Juan Carlos I. Photo credit: Spanish Navy The next phase will involve landing and take-off of Harrier AV-8B …