Current Events in Europe

http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20121210/178055907.html (RIA Novosti)

If any scenario creator is looking to put together scenarios depicting the evolving situation in Ukraine, I can offer the following information to assist: Spotted yesterday morning off Finnmark by a Norwegian P-3C Orion: Project 1164 (NATO Slava) class missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov, Project 1155 (NATO Udaloy) class destroyer Admiral Kulakov, Project 22350 (NATO Admiral Gorshkov) class frigate Admiral Kasatonov, a Project REF-675 (NATO Kaliningradneft) class tanker Vyazma and Project 712 (NATO Sliva) class rescue tug SB-406. Already in the Mediterranean, Project 864 (NATO Vishnya) intel collector Vasiliy Tatischev. Enroute to the Med, having passed th…

From Defense Aerospace UK Astor Radar Goes “Live”, Delivers Quality Target Imagery (Source: Raytheon Systems Ltd.; issued Jan. 10, 2006) LONDON --- The flight test programme for the U.K. Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) programme is progressing well in the U.S. and the U.K. As of December, 2005, a/c #1 (based in Greenville, Texas) was well into its series of check flights while in the U.K. a/c #2 had completed its first phase of flight testing. According to the test team, the DMR in a/c #1 was producing good quality imagery on only its second operational check flight. Successful system connectivity was demonstrated on the first attempt with virtual end-to-e…

From Jane's Gabler, WTD 71 lift lid on SDV demonstrator By Richard Scott 16 June 2010 Sea Devil's telescopic casing extends from 3.4 m (stowed) to 5 m (operational) in length. The torpedo tube of a Type 212A submarine will accommodate two vehicles. (IHS Jane's/Charles Hollos) Germany's Gabler Maschinenbau has unveiled a compact submarine-compatible swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV) prototype developed in conjunction with the Bundeswehr Technical Centre for Ships and Naval Weapons (WTD 71). Designed for stowage in a standard 533 mm torpedo tube, Gabler's two-person SDV concept – dubbed Sea Devil – has emerged from a technology demonstrator project begun…

The Eyes of the Future RN Carrier Strike Force (Defense Update) excerpt Something I haven't seen modeled in any sim/game.

From RIA Novosti Russian state to order naval fighters to support MiG company 21:52 | 11/ 02/ 2009 MOSCOW, February 11 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian government will order a number of MiG-29 KUB Fulcrum-D carrier-based fighters as part of the state support for the ailing MiG aircraft maker, a deputy prime minister said on Wednesday. "The state will support in every possible way, including financially, this one of Russia's largest companies. A draft weapons procurement program envisions the purchase of MiG-29 KUB naval fighters for deployment on future aircraft carriers," Sergei Ivanov told a meeting of aircraft industry officials in Moscow. The MiG corporati…

From Navy Times DoD details Russian buzzing of U.S. frigate By Philip Ewing - Staff writer Posted : Friday Sep 17, 2010 16:49:28 EDT Russian navy aircraft made a series of very close passes over the frigate Taylor last week after its visit to the northern port city of Murmansk, defense officials confirmed Friday, in a chain of incidents so unusual they were discussed in person by the top U.S. and Russian naval officers at the Pentagon. <snip> Staff writer Andrew Tilghman contributed to this report.

Probably five ships, to be delivered from 2022, not clear 76 or 127mm gun, to replace all the six ships of the Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7)/Santa Maria (F-80) class frigates(in Spanish): http://abcblogs.abc.es/tierra-mar-aire/public/post/fragatas-f110-vehiculos-18859.asp/ http://abcblogs.abc.es/tierra-mar-aire/public/post/f-110-la-fragata-del-futuro-de-la-armada-espanola-16803.asp/

Defence Aerospace Operational Practice Firing of the Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier Self-Defence System (Source: Eurosam; dated May 25, issued June 1, 2005) On 25 May 2005, the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier conducted another operational practice firing of its SAAM-FR antimissile self-defence system. The purpose of this firing was to engage a high subsonic anti-ship target with a salvo of 2 Aster 15 equipped with warheads. All the objectives of this firing were achieved. Once again, the system demonstrated its outstanding precision, with a direct hit of the target engaged by the Aster 15 missile. This firing is the latest in a 100%-succe…

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 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 RIA Novosti Russia's Yury Dolgoruky submarine to start sea trials in spring 18:52 | 11/ 02/ 2009 MOSCOW, February 11 (RIA Novosti) - Sea trials of Russia's first Borey-class strategic nuclear submarine will start in the spring when navigation opens in the White Sea, Russia's Navy commander said on Wednesday. The fourth-generation Yury Dolgoruky was built at the Sevmash plant in northern Russia and was taken out of dry dock in April 2007. It will be equipped with sea-based Bulava ballistic missiles, although they have not entered service and are due to undergo further testing this year. "The ice floe conditions in the White Sea at present are still no…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovYHAEVloRQ

Turkey, NATO the USA and Israel (Flight Global, Ariel View blog)

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 BBC [excerpt]

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

We Just Hunted Down All of Russias Long-Range Bombers (War is Boring blog)

From http://www.defensenews.com Indian Bid for Patriot Missiles Would Cause Crisis: Pakistan By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ISLAMABAD Pakistan said Feb. 23 that any bid by India to buy U.S.-made Patriot missiles would plunge the region into crisis and threaten an ongoing peace process between the two nuclear-armed rivals. Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan said that Islamabad, a front-line ally in what the U.S. calls its “war against terrorism,” had conveyed its concern to Washington over New Delhi’s interest in the anti-ballistic missile system. “This is our stance — that this step would be counterproductive, this would erode deterrence, that this wo…

Ukraine Missiles Go Missing from Crimea Naval Base By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, KIEV Two anti-aircraft missiles and a launch system have gone missing from a Ukrainian naval base in the Crimean peninsula, the defense ministry said Feb. 22. Guards came across two unidentified persons breaking into a weapons depot near Chernomorskoye, western Crimea, early in the morning Feb. 22, a statement said. The pair escaped, but guards then discovered a depot with a forced padlock from which two missiles stored in containers and a launch system for the Strela-3M portable air defense missile system were missing. Police were searching for the thieves and a special com…