Current Events in Europe

From Ares [excerpt]

BBC News Story

Bears and Blackjacks are back. What next?

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",

From Ares Spain's Aircraft Carrier Begins Air-naval Certification Campaign Posted by Christina Mackenzie at 2/14/2011 9:28 AM CST The Juan Carlos I, Spain's amphibious aircraft carrier launched on September 30, 2010, is undergoing year-long sea trials and last week started the process of gaining its air-naval certification. The first helicopter landed aboard on February 8 at 10:51. Other helicopters from the 6th Squadron (Hughes 500) and the 3rd Squadron (AB-212) then followed. Commander Emilio Aceña Medina brings his helicopter in to land on the Juan Carlos I. Photo credit: Spanish Navy The next phase will involve landing and take-off of Harrier AV-8B …

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

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.

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…

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.

BBC News story; Video of the last departure and some reaction from the crew The end of an era.

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

Lots of BBC coverage. Big one for us here is the carrier agreement; this could result in a situation where (if France agreed) F-35s flew off Charles de Gaulle to defend the Falklands. Tabloids screaming from the rooftops, as to be expected; the entente cordiale has never quite reached the red-tops.

A new? design os submarine, optimized for fast surface moving to crisis areas (in French): http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=114389 In past times it not was a idea with good outcomes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_K_class_submarine Neither in France: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_submar...Surcouf_(N_N_3) At least now in HCE we can fire at surfaced submmarines

Link to cockpit chatter (20 minutes worth) of two Dutch F-16s out of Leeuwarden intercepting a pair of Russkie Tu-95 Bears early last week: Cockpit chatter

The main body of this is published tomorrow.

From DefenseNews French Carrier Heads Home a Day into Anti-Piracy, Afghan Mission