Current Events in Europe

Times Article This might be straight from Alan Fridge, but it's an interesting development. It's also one I'd support, as my avatar suggests...

From DefenseNews [excerpt] CV32: The first glimmer of something that has been rumoured for awhile now?

BBC News story Basically, this is a programme to privatise civilian helicopter search and rescue in the UK.

BBC News Two of their Gyurza-M boats

From Navy Times CV costs could halve U.K. fleet, papers say By Philip Ewing - Staff writer Posted : Monday Oct 1, 2007 12:45:34 EDT The expense of adding two new planned aircraft carriers may cost the Royal Navy almost half of the other ships in its fleet, British newspapers reported Sunday. Citing an internal communique leaked from within the U.K. Ministry of Defence, The Times newspaper of London reported that spending on the two new 65,000-ton Queen Elizabeth-class flattops might force the admiralty to decommission five other warships by April 2008, and further cut British warships in the coming decades. London’s The Telegraph newspaper reported that draw…

From Russian Military Reform blog English version available at the link. [excerpt]

Greece Rethinks Eurofighter Deal By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ATHENS Originally posted to DefenceNews Greece is reconsidering a project by the former Socialist government to buy 60 Eurofighter jets for its air force, the defense ministry said here on April 9. As both the Greek prime minister and defense minister are due to visit the United States in the coming weeks, the press here is speculating the government may choose the U.S. F-16 instead. “The government has so far made no decision concerning the choice of company from which to buy the fourth generation jets. All options remain open,” defense ministry spokesman Stephanos Guikas told AFP. “A d…

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…

Don't worry darling, it's only a refueling plane Thu Mar 27, 11:28 AM ET LONDON (Reuters) - It may be the biggest honeymoon secret ever -- from 2011, newlyweds can start their dream trip on a Royal Air Force mid-air refueling plane, and the chances are they will be blissfully unaware of their luck. Britain's military is leasing a fleet of aerial tankers from a private consortium led by Airbus parent EADS in a landmark outsourcing deal to be unveiled on Thursday. The converted A330 passenger jets can carry 60 tonnes of fuel to refuel up to four fighters far away from base or else serve as transporters carrying 300 troops and their equipment. Offic…

BBC News Story

Says F-117A downed with a locally improved SA-3 Goa. Critical of NATO OPSEC and Comm discipline. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SER...EMPLATE=DEFAULT

From RIA Novosti [excerpt] CV32: Goes without saying that the plan is optimistic, but even so I expect they will have better luck with an established design like the Project 636 [improved Kilo] than was had with Project 677 [Lada].

Russia's Resurgent Military Fueled by billions in oil wealth, it looks to reclaim the USSR's status as a global military power. By Fred Weir, Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor As a newly self-confident, oil-rich Russia teams up with China in joint military exercises Friday, it is moving to reclaim the former Soviet Union's status as a global military power. A seven-year, $200-billion rearmament plan signed by President Vladimir Putin earlier this year will purchase new generations of missiles, planes, and perhaps aircraft carriers to rebuild Russia's arsenal. Already, the new military posture is on display: This summer, Russian bombers have ex…

Russian Navy to acquire 12 new Lada-class submarines (Jane's)

Who could blame it? From Flight International Victor bomber accidentally becomes airborne during taxi demo By David Kaminski-Morrow UK air accident specialists are not intending to investigate an unusual incident at an air show during which a Handley Page Victor bomber unexpectedly became airborne during a high-speed taxi demonstration. The incident occurred during the Cold War Jets Open Day at the Bruntingthorpe airfield, south of Leicester, the scene of the recent restoration to flight of an Avro Vulcan. Bruntingthorpe's Victor, XM715, had been participating in the 3 May event when it became briefly airborne, apparently reaching a height - based o…

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt] Very impressive!

From RIA Novosti [excerpt] CV32: Meanwhile, there was a keel laying ceremony for the first Improved Borey (Project 955A) sub in late July.

Germany Christens First of New Frigate Class (DefenseNews)

Russia's Northern Fleet Brings The Fireworks In This "Explosive" Year In Review Video (The War Zone) some great footage here

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…