Current Events in Europe

The great Russian Ships Info website has updated its section on the four Russian Fleets at October 16, 2017: Link

Testing a new variant of Il-76 for Special Forces over Black Sea: https://theaviationist.com/2017/10/03/russian-il-76-candid-modified-to-support-special-operations-conducts-flight-test-over-the-black-sea/

Russian air force Tu-22M3 (NATO Backfire C) bomber overshoots the runway on takeoff from Shaikavka airbase during the Zapad-2017 exercise.

Italy retires last Atlantique (DefenseNews)

http://www.c6f.navy.mil/news/allied-forces-begin-inaugural-exercise-formidable-shield-2017

Watch This Russian KA-52 Attack Chopper Accidentally Fire Rockets at Exercise Observers (War Zone)

Russia Conducts Three Times More War Games than Nato (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)

Russia’s ‘Mini Red October’ Subs Will Lack Advanced Propulsion System (The Diplomat)

Meet the Su-57 Oddly enough, I 'predicted' this back in 2011 in Fighter Ops...

Finalising S-400 agreement with Russia, Turkey rejects NATO interoperablity argument (Jane's)

German Navy F-125 Baden-Wurttenberg, first on her class, failed the commisioning date of 28 July 2017: http://navaltoday.com/2017/07/31/germanys-first-f125-frigate-misses-commissioning-date/

Dynamic Mongoose 2017, yearly ASW exercise, starts near Iceland (Even with participation of Icelandic OPV Tyr), from 26 June to 8 July 2017: http://navaltoday.com/2017/06/27/nato-submarine-drill-dynamic-mongoose-starts-in-iceland/

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

I think like more the traditional overall grey: https://theaviationist.com/2017/06/13/nato-unveils-new-special-livery-e-3a-awacs-for-35th-anniversary/

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:

I don't know if this news report was referenced on his day a few months ago, 27 January 2017. Intrigued by the fate of the upcoming Sea Ceptor naval SAM, no news in a long time. Looking for it in Internet only found this recent report: http://navaltoday.com/2017/01/27/hms-westminster-starts-sea-trials-after-major-refit/ Apparently from October 2016 is finished the refit adding Sea Ceptor launcher and Artisan 3D radar (some had it previously, I think) in the frigates Westminster, Montrose and Argyll (the latter designed as test ship for Sea Ceptor), waiting now for the induction in service of Sea Ceptor. Note Wesminster is equipped with towed Sonar 2087 (Current…

Russian navy ship crashes into vessel carrying livestock in Black Sea (Independent) Russian Navy Spy Ship Sinks After Colliding with Turkish Freighter in Black Sea (USNI News)

In Navy Recognition: http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/focus-analysis/naval-technology/5119-in-details-french-navy-aircraft-carrier-charles-de-gaulle-mid-life-refit.html

Indian Navy retires fleet of Tu-142M maritime patrol aircraft (Jane's)

Russia To Float Out First Upgraded Ballistic Missile Sub in 2017 (The Diplomat)