Current Events in Europe

From DefenseNews Posted 10/24/06 10:08 Turk Air Force Opts for JSF Over Eurofighter By BURAK EGE BEKDIL, ANKARA, and UMIT ENGINSOY, WASHINGTON Turkey’s Air Force has selected the U.S.-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), now called the Lightning II, over Europe’s Eurofighter Typhoon for the NATO nation’s 15-year, $10 billion program to buy about 100 new-generation fighter aircraft, Turkish procurement and military officials said. Although the Air Force, as the user, is not the sole authority for a final decision, its position is dominant and backed by the powerful General Staff, analysts said. “Although this decision is not official yet, we can say that Turkey…

Cameron: UK Will Operate 2 Aircraft Carriers (DefenseNews)

Can Russia’s Pantsir Air-Defense System Handle Drone Swarms? (War is Boring)

Ministers may save cash by replacing Trident with air-launched missiles By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor Published: 01 November 2005 The Independent Ministers are considering a cheaper replacement for Britain's Trident nuclear weapons by using air-launched cruise missiles - and they hope to overcome some of the growing opposition to the system. John Reid, the Defence Secretary, ran into fierce opposition from Labour MPs last night who protested that replacement plans were a waste of money, and the £20bn cost would be better spent on schools and hospitals. Clare Short, the former cabinet minister, writing in The Independent today says there was "e…

From Defense Aerospace Go-Ahead for the Development of the Euro Hawk; Development Contract Signed After Approval of the German Budget Committee (Source: EADS Military Air Systems; issued Feb. 1, 2007) Germany’s EuroHawk will consist of an EADS-developed sensor suite fitted to a Global Hawk unmanned aircraft. (Northrop Grumman photo) MUNICH --- The German Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a EUR 430 million contract to EuroHawk GmbH, a joint venture company formed by EADS and Northrop Grumman Corporation, for the development, test and support of the Euro Hawk unmanned signals intelligence (SIGINT) surveillance and reconnaissance system. The Euro Hawk Unm…

First Borey Class Nuclear Sub to Join Russian Navy on Sunday (RIA Novosti)

From Stratfor GEOPOLITICAL INTELLIGENCE REPORT 10.16.2007 The Russia Problem By Peter Zeihan For the past several days, high-level Russian and American policymakers, including U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Russian President Vladimir Putin's right-hand man, Sergei Ivanov, have been meeting in Moscow to discuss the grand scope of U.S.-Russian relations. These talks would be of critical importance to both countries under any circumstances, as they center on the network of treaties that have governed Europe since the closing days of the Cold War. Against the backdrop of the Iraq war, however, they have taken …

From Defense Aerospace MoD Signs £3 Billion Contracts for Aircraft Carriers (Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued July 3, 2008) The MoD today signed contracts with industry to build the two future aircraft carriers. The contracts, worth in the region of £3 billion, were signed with the newly-formed UK maritime Joint Venture, BVT Surface Fleet, and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance onboard HMS Ark Royal, one of the Royal Navy's existing aircraft carriers and currently the Fleet Flagship. Contracts authorised today encompass work worth: -- £1,325M for the construction of giant sections of both ships by BVT Surface Fleet at Govan on the Clyde and Portsmouth; …

From RIA Novosti [excerpt] CV32: Goes without saying that the plan is optimistic, but even so I expect they will have better luck with an established design like the Project 636 [improved Kilo] than was had with Project 677 [Lada].

From Flight Global [excerpt]

From Defense Aerospace US, Poland, Reach Tentative Deal on Missile Defense (Source: Voice of America news; issued July 2, 2008) STATE DEPARTMENT --- U.S. officials say the United States and Poland have reached a tentative agreement under which part of a U.S. missile defense system will be based on Polish soil. The deal to station interceptor missiles in Poland still requires top-level Polish government approval. A senior Bush administration official says the two sides have finalized the text of a draft accord, under which Poland will join the Czech Republic in hosting a regional U.S. defense system aimed against an anticipated long-range missile threat from I…

From RIA Novosti [excerpt] CV32: Nice shot of the Yury Dolgoruky.

From Aviation Week, Ares blog

From Defence Aerospace "U 32" Submarine Leaves the Nordseewerke Shipyard For Final Tests (Source: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; issued April 22, 2005) HAMBURG, Germany --- The "U32" submarine left the shipyard in Emden on 20th April 2005 for its final sea-testing phase. Extensive tests will be carried out until July 2005 in the deep water on the South Norwegian coast (Skagerrak) and in different shallow water regions of the Baltic Sea. After the tests have been completed, the "U32" will be handed over to the German Navy in July 2005 as scheduled. The overall order comprises of a total of four units of the submarine class 212A, which are being collectiv…

From DefenseNews Posted 10/25/06 13:23 Russian Missile Explodes After Test Launch By DMITRY SOLOVYOV, REUTERS, MOSCOW Russia’s newest intercontinental ballistic missile, which military sources said was successfully tested on Oct. 25, actually fell into the sea several minutes into its flight, Russia’s navy said. The failed test comes after the latest series of mishaps at Russia’s navy, once the focus of national pride and symbol of its military might. Navy sources told local news agencies earlier on Oct. 25 that the Bulava missile had been launched from a nuclear submarine in the White Sea and flew nearly the length of the giant nation to the Kura military tes…

Looks like more great scenario fodder. Turkish Navy holds exercise near south of island 11.05.2007 The Observer The Turkish Navy performed a military exercise in the region which the Greek Cypriot side has designated as an exclusive economic zone in agreements signed with Egypt and Lebanon for the purpose of oil explorations. There are two and a half months left for the tender that will see the Greek Cypriot side issuing exploration licenses for the 13 regions. The Turkish Navy performed their exercises on Wednesday, May 2, 12 miles from the Greek Cypriot coast. According to the news from various sources the Turkish Navy and some Turkish Air Force fighter j…

Russia's Resurgent Military Fueled by billions in oil wealth, it looks to reclaim the USSR's status as a global military power. By Fred Weir, Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor As a newly self-confident, oil-rich Russia teams up with China in joint military exercises Friday, it is moving to reclaim the former Soviet Union's status as a global military power. A seven-year, $200-billion rearmament plan signed by President Vladimir Putin earlier this year will purchase new generations of missiles, planes, and perhaps aircraft carriers to rebuild Russia's arsenal. Already, the new military posture is on display: This summer, Russian bombers have ex…

BBC News story IIRC, Greek S-300s protected the 2004 Games in Athens.

Russian Navy to acquire 12 new Lada-class submarines (Jane's)

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