Current Events in Europe

From Jane's RN launches first Type 45 destroyer By Katy Glassborow, JNI Reporter The first-of-class of the UK Royal Navy’s (RN’s) Type 45 anti-air warfare (AAW) destroyers, HMS Daring, was launched today at the BAE Systems shipyard at Scotstoun on the Clyde, Scotland. When the eight planned destroyers begin to enter service in 2009, they will provide the RN with an advanced AAW capability, particularly pertinent as the service is phasing out its FA.2 Sea Harriers this year. As such, the Type 45’s will provide a much needed air-defence capability against missiles and enemy aircraft, using such technology as the Sampson radar. Slippage of the original i…

From Flight International Russia gets first new fighters for 15 years as Sukhoi Su-34 debuts By Vladimir Karnozov First two jets delivered for combat training centre Moscow plans to buy 200 in total Sukhoi's Novosibirsk Aviation Industrial Association (NAPO) has delivered the first two production Su-34s to the Russian air force, marking the service's first induction of new fighters since 1992. The multi-role fighter-bombers will initially be based in Lipetsk at the air force's combat training centre, where Su-34 tactics and weapons delivery techniques will be developed. Together with six more Su-34s due to be delivered in 2007 and 10 in 2008, the aircraf…

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…

Russia to test 11 ICBMs in 2013 (RIA Novosti) We need more 'strategic level' scenarios, even if they do tend to end in a firestorm.

Russia to Develop Precision Conventional ICBM Option (RIA Novosti)

Russia Shows New Hypersonic Missile on Two MiG-31 Aircraft in Victory Day Rehearsals (The Aviationist)

A Brutal Examination: Russian Military Capability in Light of the Ukraine War (Survival, 30 May 2022)

Putin Orders Surprise Black Sea Military Exercises (DefenseNews)

BBC News story

Mikoyan expecting Russian MiG-35 order soon (Jane's)

Upgraded Tu-95 Strategic Bomber Joins Russian Air Force (Defense World)

Channel 4 news

Royal Navy Subs To Get Upgraded Spearfish Torpedo (DefenseNews)

From Defense Aerospace Fourth Submarine of the 212A Class Received the Name "U34" at a Formal Ceremony (Source: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; issued July 1, 2005) HAMBURG/EMDEN, Germany --- More than 30 years after the construction of the first submarines of the 206 Class for the German navy, the fourth submarine of the 212A Class was launched in Emden in the name "U 34". For the time being, U 34 is the last unit of the German Navy's block booking for the construction of a total of four units of the 212A Class that are being built at the Nordseewerke in Emden, "U 32" and "U 34", as well as at the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel, "U 31" and "U 33". …

Report: Brit navy ill-equipped for a major war The Associated Press Posted : Sunday Dec 2, 2007 11:37:19 EST LONDON — Britain’s navy is no longer equipped to fight a major war because of years of underfunding and cutbacks, a newspaper said Sunday, quoting what it described as a leaked Ministry of Defense report. The Sunday Telegraph said the navy would have to struggle even to repeat its role in the Iraq war and is “far more vulnerable to unexpected shocks” because of its “under-resourced” fleet of “aging and operationally defective ships.” The paper said the report was ordered by Defense Secretary Des Browne and concludes: “The current material state of …

Latest Images Of Russia’s Checkmate Fighter Shows Us Just How Big It Really Is (The War Zone, 13 November 2021)

From Air Force Times Air Force mum on nuclear bombs at Ramstein Inspection list indicates weapons were removed By Bryant Jordan - Staff writer Posted : Tuesday Jul 10, 2007 19:38:03 EDT Maybe they’re gone or maybe they’re not. Officials with U.S. Air Forces Europe simply will not say whether the Air Force removed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, up to 90 nuclear bombs, as was reported July 9 by the Federation of American Scientists. “On issues associated with nuclear weapons, we follow the longstanding Air Force policy of neither confirming nor denying the presence or absence of nuclear weapons at any specific location,” Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jess…

Kingdom of Denmark Strategy for the Arctic 2011 2020 (pdf)

By Navy Recognition: http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3805

'Mini Red Octobers:'Russia to Push on With Stealth Submarine Program (The Diplomat)