Current Events in Europe

HMS Queen Elizabeth sailing at last, for six weeks of test. Weapons now listed as 2x20mm Phalanx and 4x30mm guns: http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-carrier-thats-supposed-to-revitalize-the-british-na-1796420008

From the most recent copy of Undersea Warfare: Oscar Shifts From Quality To Quantity Russia is planning to rebuild its Oscar II class nuclear submarines to carry a wide variety of missiles. Currently, each Oscar II carries 24 large anti-ship missiles. But by rebuilding the missile launchers (which are outside the pressure hull) to carry more, but smaller missiles, each Oscar II can carry up to 72 missiles. This makes it easier to overcome the anti-missiles of enemy surface ships. What is lost in range and warhead size will be made up with better target detection and countermeasures technology. Russia has eight Type 949A SSGNs (nuclear powered cruise missile submari…

Cameron: UK Will Operate 2 Aircraft Carriers (DefenseNews)

Paints a grim picture ... From Defense Aerospace British Defense Cuts Could Fracture Alliance (Source: Lexington Institute; issued September 9, 2010) The British Government is about to complete its Defense Review 2010. Scheduled under the former Labor government, the review is taking place under the guiding hand of the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government and in the midst of the most severe economic crisis in Britain’s post-war history. The government has made it clear that it intends to close a yawning budget deficit primarily through deep budget cuts and that defense will not be immune from significant reductions. Estimates of the seve…

Russian Air Force to get 10 MiG-31BM This Year

From Maritime News http://www.marinelink.com/news/constructio...gate342743.aspx The Yantar Shipyard in the Baltic area of Kaliningrad is to start the construction of a new Krivak IV class frigate for Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

A new? design os submarine, optimized for fast surface moving to crisis areas (in French): http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=114389 In past times it not was a idea with good outcomes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_K_class_submarine Neither in France: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_submar...Surcouf_(N_N_3) At least now in HCE we can fire at surfaced submmarines

From Ares [excerpt]

CV32: I think I heard that sigh of relief from here. From RIA Novosti A test warhead from a Bulava submarine-launched ballistic missile successfully hit its target on the Kura test range in Russia's Far East Kamchatka region, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday. The missile was fired from the Dmitry Donskoy submarine in the White Sea. Bulava test launches were put on hold after a failed launch on December 9, 2009, which was caused by a defective engine nozzle. The Bulava (SS-NX-30), a three-stage liquid and solid-propellant submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), has officially suffered seven failures in 13 tests. MOSCOW, October 7 (RIA Novo…

Russian Navy receives first Ka-52KM naval helicopter (Jane's)

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

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…

Against a not yet identified Russian "crusier". And remember, HMS Defender has not anti-ship misiles, neither UK maritime patrol aircrafts or aircraft launched anti-ship missiles (only can use perhaps Alarm, Brimstone and LGBs): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html

From DefenseTech and Ocnus

Its sad to see our surface fleet being pared back so horrendously with little prospect of like for like replacement. First the Type 22's there going to be nothing left soon! Link: Royal Navy Website

A great source for imagery, geolocation and some analysis of a number of airfields important to Russian strategic aviation. http://geimint.blogspot.com/2007/07/russia...on-imagery.html

BBC News article Key Harpoon relevant points: UK to order 9 P-8 Poseidons to replaced scrapped Nimrod fleet Fewer Type 26 frigates OSD for Typhoons extended to 2040, new ground attack capabilities and what sounds like AESA radar 138 F-35Bs, 24 by 2023 (up from 8 originally) 'Successor' sub i.e. Vanguard SSBN replacement cost to go up to £30bn

From Navy Times TR group ready to deploy to Mediterranean The Associated Press Posted : Thursday Aug 28, 2008 14:52:16 EDT NORFOLK, Va. — The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group will deploy Sept. 8 with more than 7,000 sailors. The deployment will be to the Mediterranean, but the Navy said the group could go anywhere it is needed in support of maritime security. The group will deploy from Norfolk Naval Station and will later be joined by the guided-missile cruiser Monterey and guided-missile destroyers Mason and Nitze. On Monday, more than 450 sailors from the destroyer Gonzalez and the frigate Nicholas returned to Norfolk after a six-month deplo…

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Sea-testing of the Spanish LHD Juan Carlos I (the second largest warship of Europe, says the press release, waiting for the CVFs), one knot more about the expected maximum speed, and a new cut-away, none notice of the test in the Spanish media (in French): http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=113516