Current Events in Europe

From Defence Aerospace Eurocopter Proudly Announces the Official Acceptance of the first HAP Tiger by the Délégation Générale pour l’Armement. (Source: Eurocopter; issued March 18, 2005) MARIGNANE, France --- Engineer General Jacques Sandeau was at Marignane on 18 March to officially deliver the first of its 80 Tiger helicopters to the French Army Air Corps (ALAT). General Sandeau heads the Service des Programmes Aéronautiques (Aeronautical Programs Department) of the Délégation Générale pour l’Armement (French defence procurement agency). This decisive step not only marks the qualitative acceptance of the helicopters in terms of performances and systems, b…

Russian nuclear-powered cruiser to undergo overhaul (Jane's)

France, Britain Sign Carrier Pact DefenseNews By REUTERS, INNSBRUCK France and Britain signed an accord to jointly construct three aircraft carriers on March 6, with France agreeing to pay 100 million pounds ($176 million) in phases towards the design work. Britain hopes to deliver the first of two new aircraft carriers to the Royal Navy sometime around 2012, while France wants one new ship by about 2014. "This project is important to both our countries and the signing of this agreement today is a major step forward for our cooperation on future aircraft carriers," British Defence Secretary John Reid said at a joint signing ceremony with French count…

From Defense Aerospace Aircraft Carriers: What’s the Status of the Anglo-French Project? (Excerpt) (Source: meretmarines.com; published Jan. 16, 2007) PARIS --- It is something of a paradox that, even as the British press is sounding the alarm about planned cuts in the Royal Navy budget, and the possible mothballing of up to half of its frigate fleet, cooperation between Britain and France on their joint aircraft carrier project is proceeding smoothly. “Cooperation has been stepped up. We have redoubled our efforts as this is a crucial phase, and there is a strong will on both sides to reach the next milestone – the French ‘Dossier de Lancement et de Réalis…

From DEW Line blog [excerpt]

From DefenseNews

BBC news story

BBJ (h/t Alert 5)

From DefenseNews Russian Aircraft Carrier On Its Way to North Atlantic By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, MOSCOW The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov left the port of Murmansk on March 23 to carry out military exercises in the north Atlantic, Russian news reports said. “For two weeks, the Admiral Kuznetsov will implement a series of military exercises involving the airplanes on board,” ITAR-TASS quoted the Russian Navy chief-of-command as saying. More than 40 takeoffs are scheduled to take place during the exercises. The Admiral Kuznetsov went into active service in 1993. It is 302 meters long, weighs 55,000 tons, can reach a speed of 30 knots and can…

From Flight International DATE: 18/12/08 SOURCE: Flight International UK report exposes fresh cost increase to Nimrod MRA4, delay on Meteor missile By Craig Hoyle The UK's BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 surveillance aircraft and MBDA Meteor beyond visual-range air-to-air missile projects have encountered fresh schedule delays and cost increases, according to a new report published by the UK National Audit Office. Highlighting the status of 20 of the Ministry of Defence's largest procurement programmes, worth a combined £28 billion ($43 billion), the NAO's Major Projects Report reveals fresh cost increases of £102 million and £111 million respectively to the MRA…

CV32: Ouch! From Jane's RAF offers to cancel Nimrod MRA.4 programme as part of defence cuts By Tim Ripley 16 July 2010 UK Royal Air Force (RAF) chiefs have offered to cancel the GBP3.65 billion (USD5.57 billion) BAE Systems Nimrod MRA.4 programme just weeks before the first production aircraft are due to be delivered to the service. The offer, made in the RAF submission to Phase 2 of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) earlier this month, also includes the early retirement within five years of all of the service's Panavia Tornado GR.4 strike aircraft and the closure of three main operating air bases. It is hoped these cuts would allow th…

Russian Shipyard Starts Work on Fifth Buyan Corvette (RIA Novosti)

Scotland Unveils Defense Plans If It Splits From UK (Aviation Week) There's scenario fodder here.

I think like more the traditional overall grey: https://theaviationist.com/2017/06/13/nato-unveils-new-special-livery-e-3a-awacs-for-35th-anniversary/

From Australian ABC news service https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-16/australian-spy-plane-deployed-45-times-to-help-ukraine/105897496?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link

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 Defense Aerospace Manufacture of Royal Navy's New Carriers Begins (Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued July 7, 2009) Construction began on the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, their largest ever warships, today with Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal performing the initial steel-cutting for the first of the ships. The steel-cutting ceremony took place at BVT Surface Fleet's shipyard in Govan, today, Tuesday 7 July 2009. The Queen Elizabeth (QE) Class carriers, together with the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and the brand new Type 45 destroyers, will form the cornerstone of Britain's future ability to jointly project airpower worldwide from l…

In brief, future anglo-french development of a new light anti-ship missile, helicopter launched, to replace Sea Skua and SS.12 (phased-out in 1995 in the french navy) estimated IOC 2015 (in french): http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=111020

Bears and Blackjacks are back. What next?

From RIA Novosti [excerpt] Interesting graphic provided with the story: