Current Events in Europe

Eshera - Russia's secret military base? By M. Alkhazashvili TheMessenger Weeks after the signing of the agreement about the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia, sensational information about the existence of a secret Russian submarine base in Abkhazia has surfaced. The submarine base is alleged to be found in Eshera, a town in the breakaway republic of Abkhazia. This information can not be verified by Georgian officials, as Georgian representatives are barred from entering the territory of Abkhazia. Rumors have long circulated about the existence of a Russian military base in Eshera. Current reports about the existence of the base are being c…

Russian Navy Accepts First in New Class of Nuclear Attack Submarine (USNI News)

Here's The Six Super Weapons Putin Unveiled During Fiery Address (The War Zone) A nuclear powered cruise missile, a la Project Pluto (SLAM)? That is nuts.

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt] And a pic from Aviation Week's Ares blog: CV32: Reference in there to a total of 19 torpedoes carried.

Statistical Bulletin Series 4 provides figures on the equipment of the United Kingdom Armed Forces and gives international comparisons. (PDF)

Here's an excerpt from an interesting article on the Meteor AAM. It's a long one so check out the link. Meteor Approaching Arming the Typhoon, Rafale, and Gripen eDefenseOnline by Michal Fiszer Feb. 8, 2006 Despite still being in the relatively early stages of development, the Meteor missile has achieved a significant number of program milestones, including a few key ones in the latter part of 2005. On Sept. 7, 2005, the first Meteor Ground Handling Training Missiles (GHTMs) were flown on a Rafale fighter at Istres in southeastern France. The Meteor GHTM represents the dynamic properties of an operational missile such as size, mass, and aerodynamic conf…

From Flight Global DATE: 30/03/10 SOURCE: Flight International Saying goodbye to the 'Mighty Hunter' By Craig Hoyle The UK Royal Air Force will mark the end of an era in its proud maritime patrol heritage on 31 March, when the last of its British Aerospace Nimrod MR2s will be retired from use. Commemorated during a formal ceremony at RAF Kinloss in Scotland late last week, the occasion will bring to an end 41 years of operations with the Nimrod: a type derived from the world's first jet airliner, the ill-fated de Havilland Comet, which first flew in 1949. Having been selected in 1965 to meet the Ministry of Defence's Operational Requirement 381, the …

Meteor at last in service first time, in the Swedish Air Force from 11 July 2016 (in Brazilian Portuguese): http://www.aereo.jor.br/2016/07/11/missil-meteor-da-mbda-entra-em-servico-no-gripen-da-forca-aerea-sueca/

From Flight Global [excerpt]

From Aviation Week [excerpt]

Three Russian Nuke Subs to Be Recommissioned in 2013 (RIA Novosti) They are: Project 949A (Oscar II) Smolensk (K-410) and Tomsk (K-150) Project 971 (Imp Akula I) Kuzbass (K-419)

A slightly chaotic navigation site with articles and comments about UK modern weapons systems and others security issues: http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2013/04/uk-complex-weapons-part-1-introduction/

Short but interesting comments: http://blogs.cfr.org/davidson/2015/09/30/vladimir-putins-naval-ambitions-have-only-begun/

‘Leak’ May Reveal Russia’s Answer To The Virginia Class Attack Submarine Introducing the Project 545 'Laika' SSN.

If New Looks could kill: Russia’s military capability in 2022 (IISS, 15 February 2022)

From Air Force Magazine, Feb 2012 issue [excerpt]

NATO hones ASW skills in 'Joint Warrior' (Jane's) Good article with lots of detail about Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 operating in the old stomping grounds of the GIUK Gap against submarines.

From DefenseNews DIA Official Defends Russia-Georgia Reporting By JOHN T. BENNETT Published: 2 Sep 11:10 EDT (15:10 GMT) The Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA's) top analyst says the U.S. agency provided Bush administration officials with ample warning that the simmering tensions between Georgia and Russia could erupt in fighting. In the wake of fighting that broke out between the two nations, including a massive Russian offensive deep within Georgian territory, many observers have wondered why U.S. and western officials failed to predict Moscow was ready to launch an massive assault on Georgia. And while Robert Cardillo, DIA's deputy director of analysis, …

If Scotland Votes for Independence, Its Going to Need an Army (War is Boring blog)

A Guide to the Type 26 ‘City class’ Frigate (UK Defense Journal)