Current Events in Europe

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…

From DefenseNews Posted 12/21/06 14:59 France Orders Six Nuclear Subs By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, PARIS The French government ordered six Barracuda nuclear submarines on Dec. 21 for 7.9 billion euros ($10.4 billion), the defense ministry said. The attack submarines, which are propelled by nuclear power but do not carry nuclear weapons, have been ordered from France’s state-owned naval shipyards DCN and from Areva-Technicatome and were due to be delivered from 2016. ”The Barracuda program constitutes an essential part of (France’s) submarine fleet for the next 50 years,” a ministry statement said. The new subs are due to replace France’s Rubis-type models, some o…

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 …

Turkey Formalizes Intention To Buy 100 JSFs By BURAK EGE BEKDIL, ANKARA, and UMIT ENGINSOY, WASHINGTON DefenseNews Turkey’s top defense procurement panel late Dec. 12 formally announced that the NATO ally was planning to buy 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs), a deal worth more than $10 billion, as the Turkish Air Force’s new-generation fighter aircraft. After a key meeting of the Defense Industry Executive Committee in Ankara, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul told reporters that Turkey would sign a memorandum of understanding before year’s end that would make Ankara one of the nine partners in the production phase of the U.S. led program. The move is a prelude t…

From DefenseNews Posted 12/08/06 10:18 Britain to U.S.: Share JSF Technology or No Deal By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, LONDON Britain should cancel a deal with the United States to purchase Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) jets if America does not share sensitive technology by the end of the year, a report by the parliamentary defense committee will say, the Financial Times reported on Dec.8. The yearly report on British weapons spending, which is due to be released Dec. 8, says “it is still uncertain whether the U.S. is prepared to provide the required information”, despite Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W. Bush agreeing in May that Britain would get the t…

Greece Refuses Delivery Of First Type-214 Submarine NavyLeague By AMI INTERNATIONAL INC. The Greek Ministry of Defense and Hellenic Navy have refused to accept the first Katsonis-class (Type 214) submarine being built by Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Germany, citing a variety of concerns. Sources indicate that the Hellenic Navy has identified the following as among the continuing problems with the submarine, dubbed Papanikolis: * The submarine is reportedly highly unstable while surfaced; * The air-independent propulsion system has lower output power than specified; the unit must be shut down after several hours of sailing due to higher than …

From Defense Aerospace Government Announces Intention to Maintain the UK's Nuclear Deterrent (Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued Dec. 4, 2006) The Prime Minister has today, 4 December 2006, signalled the Government's intention to maintain Britain's nuclear deterrent beyond the 2020s. The Government's proposals for maintaining the deterrent have been published today in a white paper. They will receive a vote in Parliament in the early part of next year. An exhaustive review of possible future nuclear threats and deterrent options has shown that renewing the Trident system, by replacing the existing submarines and extending the life of the Trident m…

From Defense Aerospace Alenia Aeronautica's C-27J Chalks Up Another Success (Source: Finmeccanica; issued Dec. 1, 2006) ROME --- Alenia Aeronautica’s C-27J has chalked up another international success and is fast establishing itself as the next-generation tactical aircraft of choice for new NATO member countries. Romania’s Ministry of Defence has invited Alenia Aeronautica to take part in exclusive final negotiations to supply the C-27J to replace its Air Force’s current fleet of medium-sized transport aircraft. The final contract is for seven aircraft, worth a total of around EUR 220 million, and is expected to be signed by the end of the year. The planes …

Apache reign begins for Ark 28.11.06 09:00 NavyNews IN KEEPING with HMS Ark Royal’s new role as a commando assault ship, helicopter trials have been the order of the day as the carrier emerges from refit. Ark returned to Portsmouth from Rosyth after being out of action for two and a half years with a fresh mission for the last decade of her proud career. HMS Illustrious will serve as the nation’s ‘strike carrier’ and Ark as a ‘second HMS Ocean’, ferrying Royal Marines into battle (she can still perform the traditional carrier role). Central to the commando carrier role envisioned for the flat-top is the ability to operate the helicopters which will…

From Defense Aerospace Department of Defense and Netherlands Sign Next Stage Joint Strike Fighter Agreement (Source: US Department of Defense; issued Nov. 14, 2006) Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England and the Netherlands Deputy Secretary for Defence Cees van der Knaap signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to begin future cooperation in the Production, Sustainment, and Follow-On Development (PSFD) phase of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program. The Dutch, who are already contributing $800 million to the JSF Program’s development phase, plan to buy 85 conventional take-off and landing variants of the Joint Strike Fighter during the producti…

From Defence Talk Moscow Sends Missiles To Belarus After Warsaw Gets US Warplanes Agence France-Presse Nov 13, 2006 - 5:41:38 AM Russia has sent anti-aircraft systems to Belarus in retaliation against the delivery to Poland of U.S.-made F-16 warplanes, a source in the Moscow-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) said Nov. 10. ”Anticipating the arrival of the F-16s in Poland, Russia has sent to Belarus four S-300 anti-aircraft systems which have already been put into service,” according to a source at the headquarters of the anti-aircraft defense alliance of the CIS, quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency. The CIS is made up of the former members of t…

From DefenseNews Posted 11/01/06 10:04 U.S., France In Fierce Debate On Role of NATO Ahead of Riga Summit By PASCAL MALLET, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, BRUSSELS A fierce debate is raging in the heart of NATO, with the United States and France in opposing corners, ahead of a summit in Riga, Latvia this month. The disagreement centers on the future role of the North Atlantic military alliance, especially over transforming it into a global force. That row became very public on Oct. 30 with the publication of a plea from French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie against diluting NATO’s role into that of a global partnership engaged in ill-defined missions. On the sa…

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 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…

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…

From Defence Talk Ukraine Illegally Sells Tanks to Georgia Mosnews October 19th, 2006, 05:22 Ukraine has been illegally selling arms to Georgia amid escalating tensions between the South Caucasus republic and Russia, Ukraine’s Communist party leader quoted by RIA Novosti said Tuesday. “Ukraine has already delivered 40 tanks to Georgia,” Petro Symonenko said. Symonenko said Kiev is facing the risk of having sanctions imposed on it by the international community for illegally supplying arms to warring sides. However Ukraine’s Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko asked Symonenko to fulfil his deputy’s duties instead of “going into hysterics”. “Ukrain…

Don't forget this other potential "hot spot" ... From DefenseNews Russian Navy Violating Georgian Waters, Impeding Shipping: Minister By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, TBILISI A senior Georgian defense official accused the Russian navy Oct. 18 of violating Georgian territorial waters and impeding the arrival of Turkish trading ships to the ex-Soviet republic. Deputy Defense Minister Mamuka Kudava said ships from Russia’s Black Sea fleet had moved into Georgian waters under the pretext of naval exercises. ”Russian ships are occupying a very large territory. They are in Georgian territorial waters and are impeding the movement of ships from Turkey,” Kudava told AFP. …

From Defense Aerospace In the Wake of the Ancient Greeks: Sea Trials in the Mediterranean (Source: Kockums AB; issued Oct. 12, 2006) HMS Helsingborg has been undergoing sea trials in the Mediterranean over a period of approximately four weeks, to test her performance in these southern and warmer waters. During transit down the English Channel, the French Coastguard command centre in Brest amusingly confirmed the effectiveness of the vessel’s stealth technology. The Centre admitted having problems spotting the vessel, although she’d raised a mast equipped with radar reflectors to make her more visible! In an interview given to the Finnish daily newspap…

From Jane's Defence Weekly UK shortlists sniper rifle candidates By Andrew White Jane's Land Reporter London The UK's Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) has shortlisted companies to supply its new sniper rifle, which is expected to replace Accuracy International's (AI's) L96 sniper rifle. AI, Blaser Jagdwaffen (represented by Beechwood Equipment of the UK) and PGW Defence Technologies Inc Timberwolf (backed by Colt Canada Sales and Service) made the final shortlist to supply the weapon. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has expressed an interest in replacing the 7.62 mm L96 weapon with a .338-cal rifle. The DPA is also looking for a sniper rifle night s…

Naval Air Station Keflavik Closed After 45 Years Navy News | September 11, 2006 Military.com Keflavik, Iceland - Naval Air Station Keflavik (NASKEF) disestablished Sept. 8 during a ceremony officially ending its 45 years of operations in support of the defense of Iceland. More than 100 Sailors attended the event, representing a majority of the forces that remain of a population that once exceeded 5,000 military and civilian personnel and family members. Special guests included U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Carol Van Voorst and special envoy for Iceland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thorsteinn Ingolfsson. Commander, Navy Region Europe, Rear Adm. Noel Preston sa…