Current Events in Europe

Russia to modernize Akula class attack submarines (RIA Novosti)

This has been rumored for a while ... From Jane's Russia plans reactivation of two Kirov-class cruisers By Vladimir Petrov 11 November 2009 The Russian Federation Navy (RFN) is to reactivate two laid-up Kirov-class (Project 1144) battle cruisers, according to statements attributed by Russian media to the country's deputy defence minister. Colonel General Vladimir Popovkin reportedly said that the Ministry of Defence has decided to renovate and modernise its heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser (tiazhyeliy atomniy raketniy kreiser/TARK) units Admiral Lazarev (ex- Frunze ) and Admiral Nakhimov (ex- Kalinin ). The 24,300-ton ships were commissioned int…

From Defense Aerospace Press Release (Source: Romanian Ministry of Defence; issued March 24, 2010) (Issued in Romanian only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com) National Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea presented, during the meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT) held on March 23, 2010, a statement on the Multirole Aircraft Program of the Romanian Air Force. Given that Romania does not have the financial resources necessary for the acquisition of new multirole aircraft, CSAT has approved the Defence Ministry’s proposal to acquire 24 used F-16 aircraft. The proposal will be submitted for discussion and approval by the Romanian Pa…

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt]

Forgotten Waters: Minding the GIUK Gap (CNAS) There is excellent scenario fodder here (even if well trodden), either for HCE or even a PBEM / MBX type exercise:

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

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…

Sub commander 'bullied crew' on secret mission By Michael Evans, Defence Editor TimesOnline.com THE commanding officer of a Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine has been charged with bullying members of his crew while engaged in a highly sensitive secret mission. Captain Robert Kenneth Tarrant is due to appear before a court martial in Portsmouth on Monday but the details of the case are considered by the Ministry of Defence to be so sensitive that the trial may be held partly in camera. According to military legal sources, Judge Jack Bayliss, the Judge Advocate who is to take the case, has indicated that the whole trial may have to be held in secret. Und…

From Aviation Week U.S. Ponders Georgian Air Defenses Aug 13, 2008 David A. Fulghum U.S. analysts are beginning to address the question of why the Israeli Air Force was able to penetrate Syria’s Russian-made air defenses, while the Russian Air Force was not able to finesse Georgia’s Russian-made air defenses. That Russian-built and designed air defenses are exploitable was shown in the Israeli Air Force’s total shutdown of Syrian air defenses prior to bombing a suspected nuclear site last year (Aerospace DAILY, May 2). But Russia apparently didn’t have or didn’t use the digital keys to unlock the Georgians’ network. There are indications from U.S. analys…

From Defence Aerospace Ike, French Carrier Work Together During Multinational Maritime Exercise (Source: US Navy; issued May 26, 2005) ABOARD USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER --- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) opened her flight deck to the French navy May 25 during Multi-National Maritime Exercise (MNME) 05-1. A multi-role strike fighter Rafale M jet performed landings, and an E-2C Hawkeye from the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle (R 91) trapped and launched from Ike’s deck during MNME 05-1. It is the first time in more than four years Ike has worked with multinational forces. MNME 05-1, which incorporates more than 17,000 Sailors from Canad…

From Flight International DATE: 24/11/08 SOURCE: Flight International UK prepares for carrier operations with JSF By Craig Hoyle The UK is making significant advances in its preparations for carrierborne operations with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and expects to sign a contract by late February to acquire three aircraft to support test and evaluation of the type. Partners to the US-led JSF project have until 28 February to commit funds to buy aircraft for use by a joint test team during initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) activities, with the Netherlands and the UK expected to acquire low-rate initial production example…

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

From Defense Aerospace Italy Awards Order for Four FREMM Frigates (Source: compiled by defense-aerospace.com; posted Feb. 1, 2008) PARIS --- The Italian Ministry of Defense has signed a contract for the second batch of the FREMM multi-mission frigate program it is developing jointly with France. No value has been provided for this contract, which covers four additional ships. The contract was awarded to OCCAR, the European Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, which is acting as the program’s joint executive, Italian Defense Undersecretary Giovanni Lorenzo Forcieri told reporters during a Jan. 31 media event in La Spezia. This contract brings the tot…

From Jane's [excerpt]

Crimea and Russias Strategic Overhaul (Parameters)

Royal Navy 'Robots' to Hunt Down Underwater Mine Menace UK Ministry of Defence May 30, 2005, 13:10 The Royal Navy is to take delivery of a fleet of high-tech unmanned underwater 'robots' to help track down deadly sea mines. Known as REMUS - short for Remote Environmental Monitoring Units, the battery-powered vehicles will scan the seabed in water up to 100 m deep to ensure there are no underwater mines lurking to destroy ships and landing craft. Under the £2.75 million programme 10 vehicles will be bought by the Defence Procurement Agency before entering service early next year. It will be the first time the RN has had an advanced unmanned underwater ve…

From Defence Talk The French air force took delivery of its first batch of the Frence-made Rafale fighter planes on June 27, with the manufacturer of the long-delayed jet, Dassault Aviation, still looking for the first foreign order for the aircraft. French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin attended a ceremony at an army base in Saint Dizier, northeast France, where 20 models of the Rafale were delivered. The Rafale, which is the successor to the Mirage jet, entered service in the French navy in 2004 and 10 models are based on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, The Charles de Gaulle. French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who attended the cere…

From Defense Aerospace Government Moves Combat Aircraft Acquisition Into the Next Stage – Maintains Three Candidates (Source: Norwegian Ministry of Defence; dated Dec. 15, web-posted Dec. 18, 2006) The Government has now approved the so-called conceptual solution for the combat aircraft acquisition, effectively moving the combat aircraft project into the next stage. The process towards a possible acquisition of new combat aircraft will now be intensified. “We are still pursuing competition, and will therefore maintain a close dialogue with all three potential candidates, JAS Gripen, Eurofighter and Joint Strike Fighter,” says Minister of Defence Anne-Grete …

From Defense Aerospace UK Astor Radar Goes “Live”, Delivers Quality Target Imagery (Source: Raytheon Systems Ltd.; issued Jan. 10, 2006) LONDON --- The flight test programme for the U.K. Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) programme is progressing well in the U.S. and the U.K. As of December, 2005, a/c #1 (based in Greenville, Texas) was well into its series of check flights while in the U.K. a/c #2 had completed its first phase of flight testing. According to the test team, the DMR in a/c #1 was producing good quality imagery on only its second operational check flight. Successful system connectivity was demonstrated on the first attempt with virtual end-to-e…

From RIA Novosti Russian state to order naval fighters to support MiG company 21:52 | 11/ 02/ 2009 MOSCOW, February 11 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian government will order a number of MiG-29 KUB Fulcrum-D carrier-based fighters as part of the state support for the ailing MiG aircraft maker, a deputy prime minister said on Wednesday. "The state will support in every possible way, including financially, this one of Russia's largest companies. A draft weapons procurement program envisions the purchase of MiG-29 KUB naval fighters for deployment on future aircraft carriers," Sergei Ivanov told a meeting of aircraft industry officials in Moscow. The MiG corporati…