Current Events in Europe

Russia to revive bomber patrols Putin says Moscow to resume practice ended with Soviet Union's collapse The Associated Press Updated: 9:47 a.m. ET Aug 17, 2007 MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he had ordered the military to resume regular long-range flights of strategic bombers, news agencies reported, returning to a practice that ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Speaking as Russian and Chinese forces held major war games exercises for the first time on Russian territory, Putin said a halt in long-range bombers’ flights after the Soviet collapse had affected Russia’s security as other nations had continued such missions — an oblique …

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

Germany axes Euro Hawk drone program (DefenseNews)

Who could blame it? From Flight International Victor bomber accidentally becomes airborne during taxi demo By David Kaminski-Morrow UK air accident specialists are not intending to investigate an unusual incident at an air show during which a Handley Page Victor bomber unexpectedly became airborne during a high-speed taxi demonstration. The incident occurred during the Cold War Jets Open Day at the Bruntingthorpe airfield, south of Leicester, the scene of the recent restoration to flight of an Avro Vulcan. Bruntingthorpe's Victor, XM715, had been participating in the 3 May event when it became briefly airborne, apparently reaching a height - based o…

From Reuters [excerpt]

Russian Tu-22 bomber scares NATO air defenses flying at supersonic speed over the Baltic Sea for the first time (The Aviationist blog)

The Russian Navy - a Historic Transition (pdf, ONI) Lots of charts, maps and other OOB information.

US and NATO apparently retiring fast and irreversibly from Turkey! http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/us-moves-nuclear-weapons-from-turkey-to-romania/

Italy retires last Atlantique (DefenseNews)

From Defence Talk Sixth Hungarian Gripen Fighter Successfully Delivered Swedish Defence Materiel Administration Oct 27, 2006 - 4:37:00 AM One more Hungarian Gripen fighter, of the latest C version, landed at Kecskémet air base today. It was flown by a pilot from Swedish Air Force. The flight, which departed from FMV’s facility outside Linköping, lasted for about two hours. “Today’s delivery is yet another important milestone in the Gripen for Hungary program,” said Mats Hansson, program director for the Gripen for Hungary program within FMV. The remaining Gripen aircraft will be delivered to Hungary progressively until December 2007. Hungary is th…

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

Aviation Week report

Spangdahlem AB Airmen Launch Final A-10 Sortie In Europe (Defense Aerospace)

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/russia-bringing-back-worlds-largest-193949617.html

Russia To Modernize Its Lone Aircraft Carrier Next Year, New Carrier Program Could Start in 2025 (USNI News)

In short, only a total of 8+1 FREMM ASM (ASW) frigates commanded, the 9 FREMM AVT (Action vers la terre/land strike) cancelled, and in the near future a new air defence variant FREMM FREDA (FRégates de Défense Aérienne, 2 ships?), with 16 ASTER 30 added: http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=108427 (in french)

Russian air force Tu-22M3 (NATO Backfire C) bomber overshoots the runway on takeoff from Shaikavka airbase during the Zapad-2017 exercise.

April 27, 2005 NavyTimes.com Russian navy to get new submarines Associated Press MOSCOW — Russia’s navy will get two newly equipped nuclear submarines in 2006, armed with new Bulava-M intercontinental ballistic missiles, Russian news agencies quoted Commander in Chief Adm. Vladimir Kuroyedov as saying Wednesday. The submarines will bear the names of Yuri Dolgoruky, the prince who founded Moscow, and Dmitry Donskoy, who led Russian warriors in a decisive battle that brought Tatar rule of Russia to an end in the 14th century. Kuroyedov said the submarines should join the navy by the end of next year. The missiles have a range of 5,000 miles and are in the m…

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

The three Spanish SH-3W (AEW) Sea King equipped with Searchwater radar were converted in utility transports between December 2015-January 2016, losing the Spanish Armada his AEW capability. Never were modernized or equipped with any type of ESM: https://foronaval.wordpress.com/2016/05/27/adios-a-las-paqueteras/