Current Events in Europe

From ARES Netherlands, Norway Fighter Pitches Are In Posted by Bill Sweetman at 8/27/2008 8:00 AM CDT Both the Joint Strike Fighter and Gripen teams have released unclassified executive summaries of firm proposals to Norway and the Netherlands - which, after several years during which they looked like safe markets for JSF, are now running competitions to replace their F-16s. The JSF document can be found here, and the Gripen equivalent here. There are some interesting comparisons between the two. Here's JSF's range chart: The annotation and accompanying text make clear that the mission is maritime surveillance - pretty much the easiest mission yo…

From Defense Aerospace New Milestone for France’s Fourth New-Generation Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine: DCNS Rolls Out SSBN Le Terrible (Source: DCNS; issued March 21, 2008) CHERBOURG, France --- Today, DCNS rolled out SSBN Le Terrible, the fourth and last Le Triomphant-class new-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine at a ceremony attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Over 3,000 people witnessed the roll-out at DCNS’s Cherbourg shipyard, the home of excellence in French submarine construction for over 100 years. SSBN Le Terrible is the fourth and last boat of the Le Triomphant class which is progressively replacing the …

From Norwegian Ministry of Defence Excerpt from the Summary: "This Strategic Concept states the political basis for the operational activities of the Norwegian Armed Forces (NAF) in the field of security and defence policies. In doing so, it serves the role as strategic level political guidance. The document, thus, provides the political basis for the development of NAF doctrines and the NAF's operational activities." More at the link above.

Another commercial succes for the Gripen. This plane is unofficialy seen as the next belgian combat aircraft, but not untill 2015-2020. Jan

Greece Refuses Delivery Of First Type-214 Submarine NavyLeague By AMI INTERNATIONAL INC. The Greek Ministry of Defense and Hellenic Navy have refused to accept the first Katsonis-class (Type 214) submarine being built by Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Germany, citing a variety of concerns. Sources indicate that the Hellenic Navy has identified the following as among the continuing problems with the submarine, dubbed Papanikolis: * The submarine is reportedly highly unstable while surfaced; * The air-independent propulsion system has lower output power than specified; the unit must be shut down after several hours of sailing due to higher than …

Don't forget this other potential "hot spot" ... From DefenseNews Russian Navy Violating Georgian Waters, Impeding Shipping: Minister By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, TBILISI A senior Georgian defense official accused the Russian navy Oct. 18 of violating Georgian territorial waters and impeding the arrival of Turkish trading ships to the ex-Soviet republic. Deputy Defense Minister Mamuka Kudava said ships from Russia’s Black Sea fleet had moved into Georgian waters under the pretext of naval exercises. ”Russian ships are occupying a very large territory. They are in Georgian territorial waters and are impeding the movement of ships from Turkey,” Kudava told AFP. …

From http://www.defenselink.mil/news NATO Response Force Will Transform Alliance, Jones Says By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 1, 2005 – The introduction of NATO’s response force in 2006 will transform the alliance and help it to better confront 21st century challenges, the U.S. military’s top officer in Europe told a Senate panel today on Capitol Hill. Deploying NATO forces outside of Europe “is the concept that gets us away from the static” 20th century defensive posture that characterized the alliance since its formation in 1949, Marine Gen. James L. Jones explained to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. N…

Here: http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/Fotogallery/?fid=1.0.2216526060

A PDF document comparing 2008 defense spending between the USA and Europe (courtesy of the EDA): http://www.eda.europa.eu/WebUtils/download...aspx?fileid=828

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Aviation Week report

From Jane's Defence Weekly UK shortlists sniper rifle candidates By Andrew White Jane's Land Reporter London The UK's Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) has shortlisted companies to supply its new sniper rifle, which is expected to replace Accuracy International's (AI's) L96 sniper rifle. AI, Blaser Jagdwaffen (represented by Beechwood Equipment of the UK) and PGW Defence Technologies Inc Timberwolf (backed by Colt Canada Sales and Service) made the final shortlist to supply the weapon. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has expressed an interest in replacing the 7.62 mm L96 weapon with a .338-cal rifle. The DPA is also looking for a sniper rifle night s…

From RIA Novosti Russia to recall from reserve three nuclear-powered missile cruisers by 2020 - Navy 23:16 24/07/2010 Russia will recall from reserve after an upgrade three nuclear-powered missile cruisers by 2020, a high-ranking Navy staff officer told RIA Novosti on Saturday. "Cruisers Admiral Nakhimov, Admiral Lazarev and Admiral Ushakov will be modernized and returned to the Russian Navy's combat force in 10 years," the official said, adding the cruiser's equipment and weapons will be fully modernized. From RIA Novosti Russia plans to upgrade 3 nuclear-powered cruisers by 2020 (Update 1) 02:17 25/07/2010 Russia will upgrade and put on active …

Russian Navy to acquire 12 new Lada-class submarines (Jane's)

Russian Air Force to get 10 MiG-31BM This Year

From Aviation Week's Ares Blog Parliament Hunts Nimrod Posted by Bill Sweetman at 3/27/2008 8:19 AM CDT Seven and a half years late and GBP787 million ($1.6 billion) over budget, the BAE Systems Nimrod MRA.4 program should be considered for cancellation, according to the latest report from the UK Parliament's Defence Committee. When the project was launched in late 1996, it was expected in service in April 2003, but the latest predicted in-service date (ISD) is September 2010. Some of the sad story is given here. Msasively delayed projects are not unique to the UK - the V-22 was originally expected in service when? - but the UK committee singles Nimrod MRA4 o…

Naval Air Station Keflavik Closed After 45 Years Navy News | September 11, 2006 Military.com Keflavik, Iceland - Naval Air Station Keflavik (NASKEF) disestablished Sept. 8 during a ceremony officially ending its 45 years of operations in support of the defense of Iceland. More than 100 Sailors attended the event, representing a majority of the forces that remain of a population that once exceeded 5,000 military and civilian personnel and family members. Special guests included U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Carol Van Voorst and special envoy for Iceland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thorsteinn Ingolfsson. Commander, Navy Region Europe, Rear Adm. Noel Preston sa…

BBC News Story

The Russian Navy - a Historic Transition (pdf, ONI) Lots of charts, maps and other OOB information.

No injuries, Kyiv claims sabotage.