Current Events in Europe

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt]

Russia lays keels for three nuclear subs (Jane's)

Forgotten Waters: Minding the GIUK Gap (CNAS) There is excellent scenario fodder here (even if well trodden), either for HCE or even a PBEM / MBX type exercise:

In short, French engineers claimed the Rafale M is fully compatible without modifications with ski-jump ramp equipped aircraft carriers, from Vikramaditya to ex-Varyag, passing by Brazilian projects and the indecise CVF design ... I only hope the British government don't read this article http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=120001

From Defense Aerospace Upgraded Attack Submarine Rejoins the Fleet (Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Feb. 27, 2007) The Navy's potent attack submarine, HMS Talent, has rejoined the active fleet, following a £386 million upgrade. Newly equipped with one of the most advanced sonar systems in the world and a fresh reactor core, the upgrade will ensure HMS Talent maintains her battle-winning edge and stays at the forefront of Britain's underwater capability until beyond the next decade. Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Drayson said: "HMS Talent is the third of four Trafalgar class submarines to complete this vital upgrade. Work carried o…

From Stratfor The Russo-Georgian War and the Balance of Power August 12, 2008 By George Friedman The Russian invasion of Georgia has not changed the balance of power in Eurasia. It simply announced that the balance of power had already shifted. The United States has been absorbed in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as potential conflict with Iran and a destabilizing situation in Pakistan. It has no strategic ground forces in reserve and is in no position to intervene on the Russian periphery. This, as we have argued, has opened a window of opportunity for the Russians to reassert their influence in the former Soviet sphere. Moscow did not have to concer…

Sub commander 'bullied crew' on secret mission By Michael Evans, Defence Editor TimesOnline.com THE commanding officer of a Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine has been charged with bullying members of his crew while engaged in a highly sensitive secret mission. Captain Robert Kenneth Tarrant is due to appear before a court martial in Portsmouth on Monday but the details of the case are considered by the Ministry of Defence to be so sensitive that the trial may be held partly in camera. According to military legal sources, Judge Jack Bayliss, the Judge Advocate who is to take the case, has indicated that the whole trial may have to be held in secret. Und…

From Aviation Week U.S. Ponders Georgian Air Defenses Aug 13, 2008 David A. Fulghum U.S. analysts are beginning to address the question of why the Israeli Air Force was able to penetrate Syria’s Russian-made air defenses, while the Russian Air Force was not able to finesse Georgia’s Russian-made air defenses. That Russian-built and designed air defenses are exploitable was shown in the Israeli Air Force’s total shutdown of Syrian air defenses prior to bombing a suspected nuclear site last year (Aerospace DAILY, May 2). But Russia apparently didn’t have or didn’t use the digital keys to unlock the Georgians’ network. There are indications from U.S. analys…

Hi, I watched HMS Dauntless leave Portsmouth this morning heading for a 6 month deployment to the South Atlantic. Given all the Falklands rethoric recently there were a good many people seeing her off. One thing I did notice (attention Db Builders) was that Dauntless was not fitted with Phalanx. Daring deployed to the Gulf earlier this year did carry that CIWS. Obviously much confidence in the Sea Viper for SSM defence. I wonder is the omission financial or tactical? I suppose Phalanx might have been seen as a useful deterrent against Iranian speedboats/skiffs etc rather than as a last defence against leakers. Anyway, hoping Dauntless has a quiet and pe…

From Defence Aerospace Ike, French Carrier Work Together During Multinational Maritime Exercise (Source: US Navy; issued May 26, 2005) ABOARD USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER --- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) opened her flight deck to the French navy May 25 during Multi-National Maritime Exercise (MNME) 05-1. A multi-role strike fighter Rafale M jet performed landings, and an E-2C Hawkeye from the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle (R 91) trapped and launched from Ike’s deck during MNME 05-1. It is the first time in more than four years Ike has worked with multinational forces. MNME 05-1, which incorporates more than 17,000 Sailors from Canad…

Serbia Says Use Of Force Is An Option In Kosovo By Nicholas Wood BELGRADE, Serbia, Sept. 5 — Serbia is ready to use force to prevent Western states from recognizing Kosovo as an independent state, a senior Serbian official warned on Wednesday. Dusan Prorokovic, Serbia’s state secretary for Kosovo, outlined an array of tough measures to squeeze Kosovo that he said Serbia was ready to take in the event that Kosovo’s Albanian-dominated government declared independence and was recognized by Western governments. These included the possible deployment of Serbian forces to the province, the sealing of its borders, and a trade embargo. The potential steps are the …

From Flight International DATE: 24/11/08 SOURCE: Flight International UK prepares for carrier operations with JSF By Craig Hoyle The UK is making significant advances in its preparations for carrierborne operations with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and expects to sign a contract by late February to acquire three aircraft to support test and evaluation of the type. Partners to the US-led JSF project have until 28 February to commit funds to buy aircraft for use by a joint test team during initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) activities, with the Netherlands and the UK expected to acquire low-rate initial production example…

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

Oh, that'll help relations with Moscow. Wish I had one in my backyard. From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

From Defense Aerospace Italy Awards Order for Four FREMM Frigates (Source: compiled by defense-aerospace.com; posted Feb. 1, 2008) PARIS --- The Italian Ministry of Defense has signed a contract for the second batch of the FREMM multi-mission frigate program it is developing jointly with France. No value has been provided for this contract, which covers four additional ships. The contract was awarded to OCCAR, the European Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, which is acting as the program’s joint executive, Italian Defense Undersecretary Giovanni Lorenzo Forcieri told reporters during a Jan. 31 media event in La Spezia. This contract brings the tot…

From Jane's [excerpt]

Crimea and Russias Strategic Overhaul (Parameters)

Royal Navy 'Robots' to Hunt Down Underwater Mine Menace UK Ministry of Defence May 30, 2005, 13:10 The Royal Navy is to take delivery of a fleet of high-tech unmanned underwater 'robots' to help track down deadly sea mines. Known as REMUS - short for Remote Environmental Monitoring Units, the battery-powered vehicles will scan the seabed in water up to 100 m deep to ensure there are no underwater mines lurking to destroy ships and landing craft. Under the £2.75 million programme 10 vehicles will be bought by the Defence Procurement Agency before entering service early next year. It will be the first time the RN has had an advanced unmanned underwater ve…

From Defence Talk The French air force took delivery of its first batch of the Frence-made Rafale fighter planes on June 27, with the manufacturer of the long-delayed jet, Dassault Aviation, still looking for the first foreign order for the aircraft. French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin attended a ceremony at an army base in Saint Dizier, northeast France, where 20 models of the Rafale were delivered. The Rafale, which is the successor to the Mirage jet, entered service in the French navy in 2004 and 10 models are based on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, The Charles de Gaulle. French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who attended the cere…

From Defense Aerospace Government Moves Combat Aircraft Acquisition Into the Next Stage – Maintains Three Candidates (Source: Norwegian Ministry of Defence; dated Dec. 15, web-posted Dec. 18, 2006) The Government has now approved the so-called conceptual solution for the combat aircraft acquisition, effectively moving the combat aircraft project into the next stage. The process towards a possible acquisition of new combat aircraft will now be intensified. “We are still pursuing competition, and will therefore maintain a close dialogue with all three potential candidates, JAS Gripen, Eurofighter and Joint Strike Fighter,” says Minister of Defence Anne-Grete …