Defence Secretary John Healey has a message for Russian President Vladimir Putin: “We’re hunting your submarines.”
There has been a “30% rise in Russian vessels threatening UK waters”, he says.
This, according to Healey, is a direct response to the UK’s increased investment in naval capabilities and a more assertive stance against russian aggression. He was speaking during a visit to RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, where he met personnel involved in maritime patrol.
“Putin will know we are ready,” he added. “We are increasing our surveillance, increasing our patrols, and we are making it clear that we will defend our waters.”
Healey highlighted the importance of the UK’s new Poseidon P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, which are used to track submarines and surface ships. He also pointed to the Royal Navy’s increased presence in the North Sea and the English Channel.
The Defence Secretary’s comments come amid heightened tensions between the UK and Russia, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The UK has been a strong supporter of Ukraine and has imposed sanctions on Russia.Observing the crews at work, Healey tells me: “Russia is challenging us; it’s testing us; it’s watching us. But these planes allow us to say to Putin – we’re watching you; we’re hunting your subs.”
At first, the crew track a number of surface vessels, using the aircraft’s cameras to look for any suspicious equipment or activity. At times thay’re flying just a few hundred metres above the waves.
Last year, with help of the Royal Navy, an RAF P-8 monitored the Russian spy ship, Yantar, which was reported to be hovering over undersea cables in the Irish Sea.
Western nations are increasingly concerned that Russia might try to sever critical undersea cables as part of its hybrid warfare – causing chaos and disruption to internet communications.
later, they switch the mission to hunt for submarines. At the back of the aircraft are stored 129 active and passive sonar buoys which can detect underwater sounds.
There’s a loud pop as the buoys are fired automatically. One of the cameras on board shows them falling by parachute into the water. There’s no sign of the torpedoes the aircraft can carry to destroy submarines.
One of the crew admits that finding a submarine is not always that easy.
But they know the signature sound of Russian submarines and are helped by a wider network of underwater sensors.In August the RAF, working with US and Norwegian P-8s, tracked a Russian submarine shadowing an American aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, on exercise in the North Atlantic.
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