Current Events in Europe

From DefenseNews Russian Bombers Spotted Again Over North Sea; Fighters Scramble By Agence France-Presse, Oslo British and Norwegian fighter jets scrambled over the North Sea after Russian bombers were spotted flying at “unusual” latitudes overnight, the Norwegian military said July 20. The repeated sightings of Russian jets — the most numerous off Norway’s coast since the end of the Cold War, according to Norwegian public radio NRK — came amid an escalating diplomatic crisis between Russia and Britain. In the third incident of its kind this week, Norwegian jets were again called out early July 20 as another two Russian bombers were spotted close to Norwe…

From Aviation Week Russia Trumpets Conventional ''Nuke,'' With More Smoke Than Fire Sep 20, 2007 By David A. Fulghum, Amy Butler and Douglas Barrie Video of Russia's "Father of All Bombs" suggests that the design doesn't quite meet Moscow's claims of being the equivalent of a nuclear weapon without the radiation, nor that it was dropped from a high-speed bomber. And while Russia is showcasing its massive new conventional bomb, the United States is continuing its focus on developing smaller weapons that create less collateral damage. The weapon appears to be considerably more powerful than the U.S. built MOAB, but without the flexibility of launch from a fast…

Russia's Most Powerful Nuclear Attack Submarine Ever Is Almost Ready for Sea (National Interest)

Images of Russian Project 955A SSBN reveal design changes (Jane's)

DefenseNews Ukraine Admits It Sold Cruise Missiles to Iran, China By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, KIEV Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office on March 18 confirmed reports that Kiev had sold nuclear-capable cruise missiles to both Iran and China, but stressed that the deals were illegal and under criminal investigation. “This is not about exports of missiles but rather illegal sales which are being investigated by the SBU (security service) which has opened a criminal investigation of the director of the company Ukrspetsexport,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement. Svyatoslav Piskun, Ukraine’s prosecutor general, earlier told the respected, London-based F…

It's a summary of several sources, feel free to ask details if needed. Jan

From Defense Aerospace Christening of the K130 Class Corvette ERFURT in Emden: A New Benchmark In Corvette Building (Source: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; issued March 30, 2007) The German Navy’s third K130 corvette, Erfurt, was launched and christened at Emden on March 29. (TKMS photo) On March 29, 2007, a new corvette belonging to the new class K130 was launched and christened ERFURT in the presence of high-ranking guests from the Federal Ministry of Defence, the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement, the German Navy and industry. The wife of the Lord Mayor of the town of Erfurt, Sysann Bausewein performed the launch, which took place at Th…

From RIA Novosti Russia to boost Ground Forces air defense - commander 15:59 | 21/ 09/ 2007 MOSCOW, September 21 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian army will adopt a modernized version of the Tor-M air defense system in 2008, the Ground Forces press service said Friday. The Tor-M (NATO reporting name SA-15 Gauntlet) is a low to medium-altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed for intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles, precision guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic targets. "More than 50% of air defense systems in service with the Ground Forces are outdated," the press service quoted Colonel General Nikolai Frolov, commande…

From Flight Global DATE: 14/07/10 SOURCE: Flight International PICTURES: Royal Navy offered AEW-configured AW101 By Craig Hoyle AgustaWestland and Thales have stepped up their efforts to promote a development of the AW101 to replace the UK Royal Navy's venerable Sea King 7 airborne surveillance and control (ASaC) aircraft. As the incumbent suppliers of the RN's organic airborne early warning capability, the companies have joined forces to offer the AW101 Merlin equipped with Thales's Searchwater 2000 radar and Cerberus mission system. The RN's current 11 Sea King ASaC helicopters are due to be retired from use in 2016, and a new type is needed to ope…

Investigation made final conclusions on Kursk submarine tragedy — Kremlin (TASS)

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…

BBC News: Govt U-Turn over Fighter Planes BBC Reporting that the UK Government has now agreed to switch back to the F-35B variant of the JSF.

Severodvinsk Sub Fires First Cruise Missile (RIA Novosti)

Commercial sale of Type 22 frigates (Defense Aerospace)

From RIA Novosti Russia to buy 1,000 helicopters by 2020 13:22 24/02/2011 Russia's Defense Ministry announced plans on Thursday to buy 100 ships, over 600 aircraft and 1,000 helicopters under a 2011-2020 arms procurement program. Russia will buy 10 new generation S-500 air defense systems, which will replace the S-400 systems currently entering service with the Russian forces, said First Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Popovkin, who is in charge of arms procurement. Russia plans to purchase more than 100 helicopters this year, including Mi-26 Halo heavy transport helicopters, Mi-28 Night Hunter and Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters. Russia's Defense…

From Flight Global [excerpt]

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

Kongsberg studies JSM for submarine launch (Jane's)

Will be known as the Dreadnought class. Update your databases now...