Current Events in Europe

From Flight Global [excerpt]

From Aviation Week [excerpt]

Actually a phantom submarine !!!! Probably not, what a pity !!! http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/art...s/20110313.aspx Probably was

From Defense Aerospace Changes to Royal Navy's Surface Fleet Announced (Source: U.K Ministry of Defence; issued December 15, 2010) Changes to the Royal Navy's surface fleet, including the withdrawal from service of HMS Illustrious and the four remaining Type 22 frigates, have been announced today by Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox. The changes follow announcements regarding the Royal Navy's surface fleet in the White Paper 'Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review' published on 19 October. In a written ministerial statement to parliament today, Dr Fox said that HMS Illustrious will be withdrawn from service in 201…

CV32: Kovalyov last week, Simonov this week ... From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

From Ares [excerpt]

Bears and Blackjacks are back. What next?

BBC News Story

From DefenseNews

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…

Work in progress in the two new LHD for Australia based in the Spanish Juan Carlos I design: Canberra launched on 17 February 2011: http://www.infodefensa.com/?noticia=el-lhd...-de-fene-ferrol Adelaide keel laid-down on 18 February 2011 in the same slip: http://www.infodefensa.com/?noticia=navant...-para-australia Asked the project director Jorge Lopez Novo about the Russian purchase of the French Mistral design, his answer was: " ... probably Russian Navy was looking for smaller ships than Juan Carlos I",

BBC News story Basically, this is a programme to privatise civilian helicopter search and rescue in the UK.

Its sad to see our surface fleet being pared back so horrendously with little prospect of like for like replacement. First the Type 22's there going to be nothing left soon! Link: Royal Navy Website

The Harrier GR.9s took their last flight today, ending with some of the aircraft doing literal "bows" before they landed. I'll see if I can link to some footage up later.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/0...-hms-invincible Rather miserable end for a ship with such a history. More, I hope HM Government would intervene, if Mr Lam had another "Varyag" scheme on mind...

From the BBC - Rest in Peace Brian, a man who was intertwined with Britains Miliary, famous for his reporting from the Falklands and even while in his final stay in hospital gutted not to be able to report on the final flight of the Harrier, rest in peace and my regards to his family, he will be sorely missed.

Some photos of the SSN HMS Astute on sea trials. Is the first new submarine for delivery to Royal Navy after the SSBN HMS Vengeance in 1999 http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=111628 http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=111686 (in French)

Clear photos of the almost new Italian CVH Cavour in Marseille (and two years after his commisioning, without the two intended 76mm Super Rapid guns fitted, but I see something like radar gun director for those weapons): http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=114588

The main body of this is published tomorrow.