Western European Navies (week 42)

Political News
The biggest new was of course the 8% cut in funding in the UK.
Read Galrahn's post to see what effects it will have on the Royal Navy.
And Think Defence are doing a 12 part analysis of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

The French Chief of Naval Staff is sounding the alarm bells, regarding the decline of the French navy.

Spanish Defence Minister Carme Chacon called for an analysis of the competitiveness of the Spanish defense industry, compared with that of other members of the European Union.

And the Germans are still busy with their research into a reform of the military. The Weise commission recommends a reduction to 180,000 personnel and they think it must also be possible to double the amount of deployed forces.

Global Operations
For news on Operation Atalanta: see their website.

Shipbuilding
The fifth ship in the Spanish Álvaro de Bazán class will be launched on November 4.

The Hellenic Navy has received its fourth FAC.

The Dutch will bet puting Low Frequency Active Passive Sonar on their two M class frigates (Karel Doorman class). They will replace the current passive sonars, starting at the end of 2011.

Four MCMVs from the Royal Navy have been testing mine hunting sonars from Thales.

The 22nd edition of EURONAVAL is from 25-29 October.

Exercises
Type 45 destroyer HMS Daring has been on exercise with USS Enterprise in the Atlantic.

The Belgians and Dutch are underway in exercise Beneficial Archer.

Upcoming Exercise
Emerald Move 2010
3000 personnel, 11 ships, 19 planes and helicopters from Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, The UK and host nation Senegal.
Ships (that I know of):
FS Cassard
FS Siroco
FS Tonnere
ITS San Giorgio
ITS San Marco
HNLMS Johan de witt

Other
HMS Astute has run aground.
So has the Swedish ship HSwMS Sundsvall.