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From the Air Forces Monthly September 2012 issue: Eight VC-10 tankers in RAF service, but two to be retired in September 2012 and three in March 2013, leaving the service with only three VC-10 tankers. And the Voyager K2/3 is in service, but only one plane, finishing his first training flight in April 2012, and ... only for transport and aeromedical roles, for tanker use we should wait to ... 2014

From RIA Novosti [excerpt] CV32: Meanwhile, there was a keel laying ceremony for the first Improved Borey (Project 955A) sub in late July.

From Defense Aerospace Bear Sightings Are Reported At Farnborough as the A400M Receives Its Formal Name (Source: Airbus: issued July 19, 2010) Airbus Military’s A400M literally put its mark on the 2010 Farnborough International Airshow today as this new airlifter was formally named “Grizzly” during its debut appearance in the UK – which is one of the customer countries for the multi-role aircraft. As part of the naming process, simulated paw prints of a grizzly bear were placed around the show grounds at Farnborough, creating a “buzz” in advance of this afternoon’s A400M planeside naming ceremony. Ed Strongman, Airbus Military’s A400M chief test pilot, sa…

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

As per this Mer et Marine article, the SSN Rubis/Amethyste class was equipped with pump-jet replacing propellor sometime after the SSN Le Triomphant (pump-jet equipped) entry in service in 1997 (all the Rubis class has finished his upgrade to Amethyste level in 1995). I've not finded any other reference about the topic: http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=120184 Mmmm, after re-reading it, it can be only a change for a better propellor, I'm not sure ...

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt]

From Aviation Week [excerpt]

From DEW Line blog [excerpt]

From Jane's [excerpt]

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt] And a pic from Aviation Week's Ares blog: CV32: Reference in there to a total of 19 torpedoes carried.

RBS15 launch from HMS Visby (video)

From Jane's [excerpt]

From Jane's [excerpt]

In short, French engineers claimed the Rafale M is fully compatible without modifications with ski-jump ramp equipped aircraft carriers, from Vikramaditya to ex-Varyag, passing by Brazilian projects and the indecise CVF design ... I only hope the British government don't read this article http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=120001

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…

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

From Ares blog [excerpt]

From Portsmouth News [excerpt]