Current Events in Europe

Russian Navy Launches First Varshavyanka-Class Sub for Black Sea Fleet (RIA Novosti)

Russian Navy Accepts First in New Class of Nuclear Attack Submarine (USNI News)

From RIA Novosti [excerpt] CV32: The entry for this class was recently updated in the HCDB. The vertical launch system, in particular, is pretty formidable.

From the official Russian military TV channel (h/t Alert 5)

From the very interesting Mer et Marine site: http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=108535 And nice pictures of Forbin.

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:

Former Soviet officer honored with Dresden Prize for averting nuclear war (Voice of Russia)

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

From Defense Aerospace Fourth Submarine of the 212A Class Received the Name "U34" at a Formal Ceremony (Source: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; issued July 1, 2005) HAMBURG/EMDEN, Germany --- More than 30 years after the construction of the first submarines of the 206 Class for the German navy, the fourth submarine of the 212A Class was launched in Emden in the name "U 34". For the time being, U 34 is the last unit of the German Navy's block booking for the construction of a total of four units of the 212A Class that are being built at the Nordseewerke in Emden, "U 32" and "U 34", as well as at the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel, "U 31" and "U 33". …

From Flight Global [excerpt]

From Defence Aerospace Eurocopter Proudly Announces the Official Acceptance of the first HAP Tiger by the Délégation Générale pour l’Armement. (Source: Eurocopter; issued March 18, 2005) MARIGNANE, France --- Engineer General Jacques Sandeau was at Marignane on 18 March to officially deliver the first of its 80 Tiger helicopters to the French Army Air Corps (ALAT). General Sandeau heads the Service des Programmes Aéronautiques (Aeronautical Programs Department) of the Délégation Générale pour l’Armement (French defence procurement agency). This decisive step not only marks the qualitative acceptance of the helicopters in terms of performances and systems, b…

From DefenseNews France, Italy Sign Multi-Billion-Euro Frigate Deal By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, PARIS NATO allies France and Italy on Nov. 16 signed a deal initiating the first phase of a joint program to build 27 naval frigates — Europe’s largest naval construction project. The agreement to start the 11-billion-euro ($13-billion) project — known as Renaissance in Italy and FREMM (European Multi-Mission Frigates) in France — was signed on the morning of Nov. 16, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said. “The contract for the development and realization of the multi-mission frigates was signed this morning, after three years of efforts. “Europe’s…

France Floats Out First Russian Mistral Warship (RIA Novosti)

From Defense Aerospace Franco-Italian Horizon Programme: Chevalier Paul Launched (Source: DCN; issued July 13, 2006) LORIENT, France --- The Chevalier Paul, the second of two Horizon anti-air warfare (AAW) frigates for the French Navy, was ceremonially launched at DCN's Lorient shipyard on Wednesday 12 July 2006. The event was organised jointly by DCN and Horizon SAS. In addition to representatives of the main Horizon partners, the guests of honour included Laurent Giovachini, deputy director of French defence procurement agency DGA and director of weapon systems. The launch marks an important milestone in this Franco-Italian naval cooperation programme. …

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…

DGA Receives the First Retrofitted Navy Rafale (Defense Aerospace)

France says aircraft carrier price too high Former French aircraft carrier Clemenceau Yahoo PARIS (Reuters) - France's chief arms buyer on Tuesday rejected the proposed cost of a new French aircraft carrier as too high and urged French and British industries to work more closely on respective projects to keep costs down. MOPA2, a joint venture between French state shipyard DCN and arms electronics firm Thales, sent a proposal to the DGA arms procurement agency in December but the agency's top official told reporters the price tag was too expensive. "What you need is a satisfactory industrial proposition, which we don't have at the moment. The proposition …

From Navy Times France shows off new, roomy amphib By Christopher P. Cavas - Staff writer Posted : Thursday May 31, 2007 9:59:56 EDT NORFOLK, Va. — The French Navy’s new 21,500-ton amphibious ship Tonnerre towered over the pier at this sprawling naval base, just as high as the 40,000-ton U.S. Navy assault ships tied up at piers on either side. But on coming aboard, a visitor is struck by something just not found inside the nearly twice-as-large American ships: space. Photos View a gallery of images of the Tonnerre The Tonnerre, second of France’s two Mistral-class Force Projection and Command (BPC) ships, is nearly as roomy as a cruise ship. Wide passag…

From Defense Aerospace Rafale International Moves A Step Forward In Greece By Reinforcing Its Presence in Athens (Source: Rafale International; issued March 4, 2008) Today, March 4 2008, Mr. Eric Trappier Rafale International Managing Director has inaugurated the Rafale International office, located 80-88 Syngrou Avenue, 117 41 Athens in presence of H. E. Mr Christophe Farnaud, Ambassador of France in Greece, during a ceremony held at the French Embassy. Rafale International’s three partners have been supplying aircraft to Greece since 1974, with the purchase of 40 Mirage F1 at first, followed by the signature in 1985 of the TALOS contract for the acquisiti…

From DefenseNews France Strikes Deal on NATO Command: Report By agence france-presse Published: 4 Feb 12:13 EST (17:13 GMT) PARIS - France has won U.S. support to take command of two major NATO structures as part of negotiations on its return to the military alliance's integrated command, Le Monde newspaper's Feb. 4 edition said. Under the agreement, one French general would be appointed to head NATO's Allied Command Transformation based in Norfolk, Va., and a general could take over a regional command in Lisbon, the newspaper reported. President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to announce France's return to NATO's command structure at a summit in Strasbourg…