Current Events in Europe

Here's The Six Super Weapons Putin Unveiled During Fiery Address (The War Zone) A nuclear powered cruise missile, a la Project Pluto (SLAM)? That is nuts.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Putin's War in Ukraine and Boris Nemtsov's Putin. War. (Atlantic Council)

CV32: This portion in particular was interesting ... From Defense Aerospace [excerpt]

Some photos of the SSN HMS Astute on sea trials. Is the first new submarine for delivery to Royal Navy after the SSBN HMS Vengeance in 1999 http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=111628 http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=111686 (in French)

Its sad to see our surface fleet being pared back so horrendously with little prospect of like for like replacement. First the Type 22's there going to be nothing left soon! Link: Royal Navy Website

HMS CREWLESS Daily Mirror EXCLUSIVE Royal Navy unveils Britain's biggest ever ships ..but there's not enough sailors to man them By Chris Hughes NAVY chiefs are desperately looking for more than 1,000 new recruits to help crew Britain's two biggest ever warships. The two £1.5billion 60,000-ton aircraft carriers - three times heavier than the ones currently in the fleet - are not due to be ready until 2012. But top brass are desperate to start recruiting now. One senior source revealed yesterday: "This is a crisis as we need hundreds more marines and engineers to be ready in time. "We are moving on from the Cold War. That's over, but the need for …

From Defence Talk World's Most Advanced Warship Departs River Clyde on Maiden Voyage BAE Systems | Jul 20, 2007 The most advanced warship in the world to date, HMS Daring, has departed from BAE Systems’ shipyard in Scotstoun on her maiden voyage down the River Clyde to begin sea trials off the west coast of Scotland. Launched by HRH the Countess of Wessex in February 2006, HMS Daring is the first of six Daring class Type 45 destroyers being built for the Royal Navy. They will provide the British fleet and her allies with an unparalleled level of anti-air warfare capability through to the middle of the 21st century and will be the most capable warships of the…

From Jane's Daring handed over to UK Royal Navy By Tim Fish 12 December 2008 Daring, the first Type 45 destroyer built by BAE Systems/BVT Surface Fleet for the UK Royal Navy, has achieved Acceptance off Contract and was handed over to the UK Ministry of Defence on 10 December. The 7,450-ton destroyer is expected to undergo Stage Two sea trials from February to May 2009 and has an in-service date scheduled for late 2009. Launched in February 2006, Daring completed its final set of three contractor sea trials in September 2008 that tested its power, propulsion, weapon and communications systems. The following five ships of the class will only require t…

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

From Defense Aerospace HMS Dauntless Commissioned Into Fleet (Source: U.K Ministry of Defence; issued June 3, 2010) HMS Dauntless, the second of the Royal Navy's new, formidable Type 45 destroyers, was formally commissioned into the fleet today, Thursday 3 June 2010. Hundreds of guests including families of the 190-strong ship's company attended the colourful 'christening' ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base. Principal guests were Lady Mary Burnell-Nugent, the ship's sponsor who launched the ship at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard in Glasgow in January 2007, and Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar. The ceremony was conducted by the Venerable J…

Hi, I watched HMS Dauntless leave Portsmouth this morning heading for a 6 month deployment to the South Atlantic. Given all the Falklands rethoric recently there were a good many people seeing her off. One thing I did notice (attention Db Builders) was that Dauntless was not fitted with Phalanx. Daring deployed to the Gulf earlier this year did carry that CIWS. Obviously much confidence in the Sea Viper for SSM defence. I wonder is the omission financial or tactical? I suppose Phalanx might have been seen as a useful deterrent against Iranian speedboats/skiffs etc rather than as a last defence against leakers. Anyway, hoping Dauntless has a quiet and pe…

From Defense Aerospace Royal Navy's Latest Warship Makes Waves (Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Jan. 23, 2007) The Royal Navy's newest warship, the Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dauntless, was launched on the Clyde today by Lady Burnell-Nugent, wife of the Commander In Chief of the Fleet. HMS Dauntless is the second of the new Type 45 class of Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers. The Type 45s are some of the most powerful destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy - they can sail over 600 miles a day and operate around the globe, and will be able to support global offensive and peacekeeping operations, combat drug smugglers and deliver humanitarian aid. Armed Fo…

HMS Defender Joins the Fleet (Defense Aerospace)

Against a not yet identified Russian "crusier". And remember, HMS Defender has not anti-ship misiles, neither UK maritime patrol aircrafts or aircraft launched anti-ship missiles (only can use perhaps Alarm, Brimstone and LGBs): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/0...-hms-invincible Rather miserable end for a ship with such a history. More, I hope HM Government would intervene, if Mr Lam had another "Varyag" scheme on mind...

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/aircraft-carrier-hms-queen-elizabeth-begins-having-phalanx-guns-fitted/

Ice damage evident as UK SSN returns home (Jane's)

From Defense Aerospace Upgraded Attack Submarine Rejoins the Fleet (Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Feb. 27, 2007) The Navy's potent attack submarine, HMS Talent, has rejoined the active fleet, following a £386 million upgrade. Newly equipped with one of the most advanced sonar systems in the world and a fresh reactor core, the upgrade will ensure HMS Talent maintains her battle-winning edge and stays at the forefront of Britain's underwater capability until beyond the next decade. Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Drayson said: "HMS Talent is the third of four Trafalgar class submarines to complete this vital upgrade. Work carried o…

Presented at Le Bourget, at this time only in development: newsmbda-introduces-cvs302-hoplite-indirect-precision-attack-missile

Hunting Red October - Sonar Top Guns By Geoff Meade Sky's Defence Corespondent Updated: 00:32, Wednesday August 22, 2007 For the first time the Ministry of Defence has opened the doors of its highly secret top gun school for sonar operators. For 30 years, during the cat and mouse game of the Cold War, when Royal Navy boats and RAF surveillance planes tracked the seas for Soviet submarines, the school was one of the services' closest guarded secrets. Sky's Defence Correspondent Geoff Meade has been allowed inside. If it wasn't for the combination locks on the doors and the notices warning operators to secure documents under lock and key before leaving…