Current Events in Europe

From Defense Aerospace NATO Welcomes French Decision to Rejoin Military Command (Source: Deutsche Welle German radio; issued June 17, 2008) NATO has welcomed President Nicolas Sarkozy's announcement that France is to fully reintegrate into the military alliance in a significant shift away from French exceptionalism. NATO on Tuesday, June 17, welcomed French President Nicolas Sarkozy's announcement that France had decided its future security is best guaranteed within Europe and the NATO military alliance and his plans for an overhaul of the military. "The secretary general welcomes the announcement by French President Sarkozy that there are no obstacles to…

From DefenseNews Chirac Warns Would-be Attackers France Could Respond With Nukes By PIERRE TRAN, PARIS President Jacques Chirac extended France’s nuclear doctrine Jan. 19 with a warning that states considering using terrorist attacks or weapons of mass destruction run the risk of a nuclear retaliation. “Leaders of states which might resort to terrorist methods against us, just as those envisaging to use, in one way or another, weapons of mass destruction, should understand they expose themselves to a firm and proportionate response on our part,” Chirac said in a keynote speech on a visit to Le Vigilent, the most modern of France’s nuclear ballistic missile su…

From DefenseNews Chirac Warns Would-be Attackers France Could Respond With Nukes By PIERRE TRAN, PARIS President Jacques Chirac extended France’s nuclear doctrine Jan. 19 with a warning that states considering using terrorist attacks or weapons of mass destruction run the risk of a nuclear retaliation. “Leaders of states which might resort to terrorist methods against us, just as those envisaging to use, in one way or another, weapons of mass destruction, should understand they expose themselves to a firm and proportionate response on our part,” Chirac said in a keynote speech on a visit to Le Vigilent, the most modern of France’s nuclear ballistic missile su…

France, Britain Sign Carrier Pact DefenseNews By REUTERS, INNSBRUCK France and Britain signed an accord to jointly construct three aircraft carriers on March 6, with France agreeing to pay 100 million pounds ($176 million) in phases towards the design work. Britain hopes to deliver the first of two new aircraft carriers to the Royal Navy sometime around 2012, while France wants one new ship by about 2014. "This project is important to both our countries and the signing of this agreement today is a major step forward for our cooperation on future aircraft carriers," British Defence Secretary John Reid said at a joint signing ceremony with French count…

Frances 2013 Defense White Paper (Livre Blanc) formally ends Frances plans for a 2nd aircraft carrier. (Defense Industry Daily)

In short, only a total of 8+1 FREMM ASM (ASW) frigates commanded, the 9 FREMM AVT (Action vers la terre/land strike) cancelled, and in the near future a new air defence variant FREMM FREDA (FRégates de Défense Aérienne, 2 ships?), with 16 ASTER 30 added: http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=108427 (in french)

First images of FF Aquitaine (near 6.000 tons), first ship of a new series, literally unveiled in presence of the french president Nicolas Sarkozy (in french): http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=113073

From Mer et Marine, and with implications in the DB: http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=119189 For now, six commanded frigates: F590 Carlo Bergamini: General purpose variant, shore bombardment. F591 Virginio Fasan: ASW variant. F592 Carlo Margottini: ASW variant. F593 Luigi Rizzo: ASW variant. F594 unnamed: ASW variant. F595 unnamed: General purpose variant, shore bombardment. Main differences: The main gun in the General purpose variant is a 127mm/64 OTO Melara LW. The main gun in the ASW variant is a 76mm/62 OTO Melara Super Rapid. (and another aft 76mm gun and 2x25mm/80 OTO Melara Oerlikon single guns in both variants, the French variant has on…

From DefenseNews French Carrier Heads Home a Day into Anti-Piracy, Afghan Mission

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 French DM Casts Doubt on Need for Missile Defense By JULIAN HALE Published: 2 Dec 18:43 EST (23:43 GMT) BRUSSELS - France's defense minister cast doubt on the need for theater missile defenses in Europe, keeping Paris at odds with the Bush administration on the issue. Speaking to members of the European Parliament here Dec. 1, Hervé Morin asked what funds Europe would have left for other things if it committed to the "huge cost" of such defenses. Morin raised other questions as well. "Who would hold the key" to their use? What threat would they tackle? "There are risks, yes, but to say that there is a threat today would need to be ch…

French SSBN activities pinned by a fitness APP, and it is not the only example: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/french-nuclear-submarines-stealth-mode/#google_vignette

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-18/biden-allows-ukraine-to-use-atacms-missiles-on-targets-in-russia/104612578

From Russia Today December 20, 2007, 10:51 Ssshhh! Guess who's 90 today! KGB is the Russian abbreviation for Committee for State Security, the organisation serving as the Soviet Union's premier security agency, secret police and intelligence agency. It is now known as the FSB (Federal Security Service) and is marking 90 years since its foundation. The first incarnation of the KGB, the Cheka, was established on December 20, 1917. It was headed by Felix Dzerzhinsky. At first there were only 23 employees. Amongst its first objectives was to stop the looting of wine cellars and profiteering - but it did not stay that way. “Secret services are necessary, …

From Jane's Funding may delay UK's first JSF purchase By Tim Ripley 4 November 2008 UK procurement officials are considering options to push back the first purchase of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft, amid growing speculation that funding shortfalls are threatening UK participation in the programme. Jane's has learnt that UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials have raised the possibility of not buying three low-rate initial production (LRIP) aircraft over the next two years at a cost of some GBP450 million (USD742 million) and delaying purchases until production-standard aircraft are available in the middle of the next d…

From RIA Novosti What is the future for Russia's submarine fleet? 18:43 | 01/ 10/ 2008 MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti military commentator Ilya Kramnik) - Dmitry Medvedev's remarks that Russia is resuming production of nuclear submarines for its Navy have been widely commented on. The country's submarine fleet is in critical condition and calls for renewal. The president's words raise hopes for an early change. Submarines play a special role in Russia's Navy. In the late 1950s, following the death of Josef Stalin, the new Soviet leaders opted for a nuclear missile equipped submarine fleet, and now it forms the core of the Navy's might. A drastic cut in the number o…

Of interest: https://www.navylookout.com/the-factors-shaping-the-future-royal-navy-surface-fleet/

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…

From Defense News Georgian Parliament To Vote on Russian Military Bases By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, TBILISI Georgia’s parliament will vote March 10 on whether to outlaw Russian military bases on the former Soviet republic’s territory, unless Moscow and Tbilisi can agree on their withdrawal by January 2006. However, Moscow responded that such a timeline was impossible to meet, setting up another confrontation with the former Soviet republic, which currently houses two Russian military bases. Relations between the two countries had been severely strained in recent years, following the election of pro-Western reformer Mikhail Saakashvili as Georgian presiden…

BBC News Story