BBC – UK opens centre to tackle security risks at sea

A national control centre to help protect the UK’s interests at sea has been set up by the government.

Daily Telegraph – Navy intercepts Argentinian warship near British waters

The Royal Navy has intercepted an Argentinian warship near British waters in an apparent escalation of the row over the Falkland Islands.

BBC – Argentina takes Falklands oil dispute with UK to UN

Argentina is seeking United Nations support in its new row with the UK over oil drilling off the Falkland Islands.

US Naval War College Review – Great Britain Gambles With The Royal Navy

The news late last year that the Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland was to be replaced on the Falklands patrol by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Largs Bay in order to join the international counterpiracy effort in the Gulf of Aden raised quite a few eyebrows. This was not because anyone seriously thought that Argentina would seek to profit from the absence of a British warship in these contested waters for the first time since 1982 but more as it seemed to show just how bad things were getting for the once-mighty Royal Navy that its first-line fleet could not apparently cover both commitments at once.

The Times – Carriers versus tanks: Royal Navy joins battle for resources

The commitment to spend £20 billion on a replacement for Britain’s Trident nuclear submarines risks damaging the Royal Navy as it faces possible cutbacks in its manpower and fleet.

Defense Technology International – Carrier Hot Air

Irrespective of the continuing churn of rumor surrounding their long-term security in the equipment program, the UK Defense Ministry continues to spend significantly on its next-generation aircraft carrier program.

The Times – MoD mulls outsourcing options for Merchant Navy

Up to 20 companies have told the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of their interest in participating in the part-privatisation of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) — the Merchant Navy.

The Times – Navy facing struggle for survival as Treasury cuts spending, report warns

The Royal Navy is facing a struggle for survival against a Treasury intent on cutting back on defence spending, a report warns today.

BBC – UK ‘sorry’ for shooting at ‘Spanish flag’ buoy

The UK has apologised to Spain after the Royal Navy used a buoy with the Spanish colours for target practice.

Defense Technology International – Astute Move

The first of the Royal Navy’s Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarines has finally made it to its home base only four year behind the original in-service date. The navy now intends accept HMS Astute into service in 2010.

The Times – Royal Navy failed to open fire as pirates seized Britons

The Royal Navy failed to open fire as Somali pirates seized two British hostages and, instead, watched helplessly as the couple were taken prisoner.

Defense Technology International – Boomer Bust

While hardly an auspicious start, a couple of months delay in concluding the concept phase for the UK’s future deterrent program is – in the UK Defense Ministry scheme of things – almost on time.

Defense Technology International – Timing Is Everything

HMS Invincible will be retired in 2010, Ark Royal in 2014, and Illustrious in 2016 – HMS Queen Elizabeth will enter service at the end of 2015, with the Prince of Wales to follow in 2018. At least that’s the current timetable according to Quentin Davies, the British minister for defense equipment and support

BBC – Cost cuts blamed for Nimrod crash

An independent review into a fatal 2006 Nimrod crash, which killed 14 service personnel, has accused the MoD of sacrificing safety to cut costs.

The Times – Navy surrenders one new aircraft carrier in budget battle

The Royal Navy has agreed to sacrifice one of its two new aircraft carriers to save about £8.2 billion from the defence budget.

BBC – UK navy forces to return to Iraq

British naval personnel are to return to Iraq to train local forces.

Defense Technology International – Almost The Last, Defender

HMS Defender – launched October 21 on the River Clyde in Scotland – would originally not even have marked the half-way point in the Type 45 destroyer program. Today the ship is the last but one of the class being bought by the Royal Navy.

Defense Technology International – Naval Ratings

In an example of how the British military is being forced to take capability “holidays” resulting from the operational pressures of Afghanistan, the British Army has just carried out Apache Deck training with HMS Ocean for the first time since 2005.

Economist – Nuclear Deterrent: Subtraction

Britain’s nuclear-submarine fleet may shrink.

The Times – Cutbacks for both the Royal Navy and the RAF

The Royal Navy and the RAF have been ordered to cut right back on all unnecessary spending in order to ensure that defence spending is focused entirely on Afghanistan.

UK Ministry of Defence – Royal Navy Sea Kings ‘bag’ intelligence over Helmand

The Royal Navy’s unique airborne surveillance and control helicopters, known as ‘Baggers’, have recently deployed to Helmand in Afganistan for the first time, where they are detecting, following and intercepting insurgent activity.

(Thanks to Justin for the pointer…)

BBC – Navy seizes cocaine ‘worth £240m’

The Royal Navy says it has seized its largest haul of cocaine, with an estimated street value of £240m.

New York Review of Books – A Black and Disgraceful Site

A review of the book “Island of Shame: The Secret History of the US Military Base on Diego Garcia.” An interesting take on the history of Diego Garcia as a US base in the Indian Ocean.

The Times – Britain’s nuclear overture – we will cut Trident fleet

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is preparing to surrender one of Britain’s four Trident submarines to help to cut nuclear arsenals around the world.

Daily Telegraph – Dauntless task for Scottish shipbuilders on the Clyde

Standing in the shadow of the enormous steel bulk of Defender, the latest Type 45 destroyer to be built on the Clyde and looking across the river, the windows of blocks and blocks of newly-finished luxury flats wink back from the opposite bank. The river is narrow here but the two sides demonstrate the gulf between what Glasgow – and Britain’s – economy was and what it has become.