Current Events in Europe

From RIA Novosti Russia to launch new nuclear submarine Sunday - Ivanov 15:43 | 09/ 04/ 2007 MOSCOW, April 9 (RIA Novosti) - A fourth-generation strategic nuclear submarine will be launched during a special ceremony at a shipbuilding yard in northern Russia Sunday, a first deputy prime minister said Monday. The Yury Dolgoruky, a Borey-class nuclear missile submarine, was built at the Sevmash plant in the northern Arkhangelsk Region. It will be equipped with the Bulava ballistic missile, which is adapted from the Topol-M (SS-27). Sergei Ivanov said at a government meeting that the submarine will undergo sea trials in 2007 and will be fully equipped with …

Navy faces 'losing its ability to be a force' IAN BRUCE, Defence Correspondent April 18 2007 The Herald Britain's strategic safety and the national ability to design and build warships are at risk because a "dysfunctional" Ministry of Defence has gone to war with a peace-time accountant's mentality, according to a former deputy chief of the defence staff. Vice-Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham, who edits Naval Review and is vice-president of the Royal United Services' Institute, says the Royal Navy is on the brink of "losing irretrievably" its ability to act as a decisive force in world events for the first time since Nelson's day. Writing jointly in the April iss…

From Stratfor Geopolitical Intelligence Report 04.17.2007 The Coming Era of Russia's Dark Rider By Peter Zeihan Russian opposition members rallied in Moscow's Pushkin Square on April 14. The so-called Dissenters' March was organized by Other Russia, an umbrella group that includes everyone from unrepentant communists and free-market reformers to far-right ultranationalists whose only uniting characteristic is their common opposition to the centralization of power under President Vladimir Putin's administration. Minutes after the march began, the 2,000 or so protesters found themselves outnumbered more than four to one by security forces. They quickly dis…

From Defense Aerospace John C. Stennis Completes Operations with French Carrier Charles de Gaulle (Source: US Navy; issued April 17, 2007) USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea --- USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) completed month-long operations with the French nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91) in the North Arabian Sea on April 16. Since Charles de Gaulle’s arrival in the region March 16, the two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers have been operating together in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Both ships are providing support to the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) on the ground in Afghanistan as well as conducting bilat…

From Jane's Defence Weekly 10 April 2007 Cluster weapons ban leaves gap in UK inventory By Robert Hewson Editor, Jane's Air-Launched Weapons London On 20 March UK Defence Secretary Des Browne announced that all of the UK's remaining 3,650 RBL 755 cluster bombs and their 536,550 submunitions would be immediately withdrawn. M26 rockets for the British Army Royal Artillery's Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) batteries are also being scrapped - 43,200 rockets containing 27,820,800 submunitions. The army will retain its AT2 MLRS anti-tank rockets, which are classed as 'smart' weapons because each submunition is fitted with a self-destruct fuze. However, the U…

From DefenseNews Posted 04/02/07 16:52 Norway, Navantia Spar Over Frigate Cost, Quality By GERARD O’DWYER, HELSINKI Norway’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) says it is hopeful but not “overly optimistic” that it will soon resolve a dispute with Spanish shipyard Navantia over the cost and quality of five Fridtjof Nansen frigates ordered by the Navy, an MoD official said. At a budgeted cost of $3 billion, the five-frigate project is Norway’s most expensive naval asset contract ever. The delivery schedule, agreed in 2000, calls for Navantia to hand over one new 5,100-ton frigate to the Navy each year from spring 2006 through 2010. Each frigate is designed to accommodate…

From Defense Aerospace Christening of the K130 Class Corvette ERFURT in Emden: A New Benchmark In Corvette Building (Source: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; issued March 30, 2007) The German Navy’s third K130 corvette, Erfurt, was launched and christened at Emden on March 29. (TKMS photo) On March 29, 2007, a new corvette belonging to the new class K130 was launched and christened ERFURT in the presence of high-ranking guests from the Federal Ministry of Defence, the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement, the German Navy and industry. The wife of the Lord Mayor of the town of Erfurt, Sysann Bausewein performed the launch, which took place at Th…

From Defence Talk Russian Bombers Could Suppress US Missile Shield RIA Novosti | Mar 6, 2007 Moscow: Russia's strategic aviation has sufficient potential to suppress elements of a U.S. missile defense shield should it be deployed in Central Europe, the commander of the Strategic Air Force said Monday. "Missile shield elements, which are located in silos, are very vulnerable and have weak defenses," Lieutenant-General Igor Khvorov said. "Therefore, all aircraft deployed by [Russian] strategic aviation can either apply electronic counter-measures against them or physically destroy them." Russia, which has been anxious about NATO bases that have appeared in form…

From Defence Talk Russia Revises Military Doctrine To Reflect Global Changes RIA Novosti | Mar 6, 2007 Moscow: Russia is preparing a new draft of its military doctrine to reflect the growing importance of the use of force in foreign polices conducted by leading global powers, the Security Council said Monday. "The analysis of the situation on the global arena points to the increasing demand for forcible actions in the policies conducted by the leading countries," the council said in a statement. "The new revision of the military doctrine should provide answers to the most urgent issues of Russia's national security," the statement said. The current milita…

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…

Russia May Scrap U.S. Arms Control Treaty Reuters DefenseNews MOSCOW -- Russia warned the United States on Thursday it might pull out of a Cold War nuclear arms reduction treaty because of plans by Washington to build a missile shield in Eastern Europe. General Yuri Baluyevsky, head of the Russian general staff, said Russia could unilaterally withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), Russian news agencies reported. When asked whether Russia would pull out of the agreement, Baluyevsky, said: "We will see how our American partners are going to act," Interfax news agency reported. "What they are doing at the moment -- creating…

France says aircraft carrier price too high Former French aircraft carrier Clemenceau Yahoo PARIS (Reuters) - France's chief arms buyer on Tuesday rejected the proposed cost of a new French aircraft carrier as too high and urged French and British industries to work more closely on respective projects to keep costs down. MOPA2, a joint venture between French state shipyard DCN and arms electronics firm Thales, sent a proposal to the DGA arms procurement agency in December but the agency's top official told reporters the price tag was too expensive. "What you need is a satisfactory industrial proposition, which we don't have at the moment. The proposition …

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…

From Defense Aerospace Turkey Signs On for Next Phase of Joint Strike Fighter (Source: US Department of Defense; issued Jan. 26, 2007) WASHINGTON --- Turkey signed on for the next phase of the Joint Strike Fighter in a ceremony here yesterday, pledging $175 million toward the aircraft’s production. Turkey also promised to buy 100 of the conventional-take-off-and-landing version of the aircraft, being developed by the Navy, Air Force, Marines and allies. In a Pentagon E-wing room, flanked by about 30 Turkish and U.S. dignitaries and program officers, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England met with Turkey’s National Defense Minister Mehmet Vecdi G…

From Defense Aerospace Royal Navy's Latest Warship Makes Waves (Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Jan. 23, 2007) The Royal Navy's newest warship, the Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dauntless, was launched on the Clyde today by Lady Burnell-Nugent, wife of the Commander In Chief of the Fleet. HMS Dauntless is the second of the new Type 45 class of Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers. The Type 45s are some of the most powerful destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy - they can sail over 600 miles a day and operate around the globe, and will be able to support global offensive and peacekeeping operations, combat drug smugglers and deliver humanitarian aid. Armed Fo…

From Defense Aerospace Aircraft Carriers: What’s the Status of the Anglo-French Project? (Excerpt) (Source: meretmarines.com; published Jan. 16, 2007) PARIS --- It is something of a paradox that, even as the British press is sounding the alarm about planned cuts in the Royal Navy budget, and the possible mothballing of up to half of its frigate fleet, cooperation between Britain and France on their joint aircraft carrier project is proceeding smoothly. “Cooperation has been stepped up. We have redoubled our efforts as this is a crucial phase, and there is a strong will on both sides to reach the next milestone – the French ‘Dossier de Lancement et de Réalis…

A handy guide to defence related acronyms in the European sphere (and beyond) has been issued by the European Defence Agency. You can find it (in PDF) here.

From DefenseNews Posted 01/15/07 11:24 Austria’s New Defense Minister Wants To Drop Eurofighter Contract By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, VIENNA Austria’s new defense minister, Norbert Darabos, in an interview appearing here Friday, said he remained determined to drop a contract signed by the former government to purchase 18 Eurofighter jets. “The objective is still to pull out of the Eurofighter contract. The costs are simply too high,” the Social Democrat minister told the daily newspaper Oesterreich. But he added: “I cannot say yet whether a pull-out is financially feasible.” Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, also a Social Democrat, made a campaign pledge to scrap the…

Lord Nelson would be rolling over in his crypt... British navy facing severe cutbacks, according to report 'REDUCED READINESS': Unnamed defense sources said it was possible that the navy would cease one of its major commitments overseas to save money AFP, LONDON Saturday, Jan 06, 2007, Page 6 "What this means is that we are now no better than a coastal defense force or a fleet of dug-out canoes. The Dutch now have a better navy than us." unnamed senior officer in the British Royal Navy Almost half of the British Royal Navy's warships are to be mothballed as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) tries to slash costs, the Daily Telegraph reported yesterday.…

From Flight International Russia gets first new fighters for 15 years as Sukhoi Su-34 debuts By Vladimir Karnozov First two jets delivered for combat training centre Moscow plans to buy 200 in total Sukhoi's Novosibirsk Aviation Industrial Association (NAPO) has delivered the first two production Su-34s to the Russian air force, marking the service's first induction of new fighters since 1992. The multi-role fighter-bombers will initially be based in Lipetsk at the air force's combat training centre, where Su-34 tactics and weapons delivery techniques will be developed. Together with six more Su-34s due to be delivered in 2007 and 10 in 2008, the aircraf…