A British warship and a Royal Navy P8 maritime patrol aircraft tracked Russian submarines attempting to survey vital undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic, the defence secretary, John Healey, has said.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Healey said the UK operation lasted for more than a month and involved a Royal Navy warship and aircraft working together to “track and deter any malign activity” by three Russian submarines.
According to Healey, the British response ensured the submarines fled the area. He said the operation took place in the North Atlantic and North Sea, where the activity was focused on undersea cables and other infrastructure that are seen as important to national security and communications.
The defence secretary’s comments came as the government highlighted the role of the Royal Navy in monitoring Russian naval activity around UK waters and beyond. The operation is the latest example of the UK’s efforts to deter what ministers describe as hostile activity beneath and around critical infrastructure.
Undersea cables carry huge volumes of internet, communications and data traffic, making them an important strategic asset. Their protection has become a growing concern for governments across Europe and the wider North Atlantic, particularly amid heightened tensions with Russia.
Healey did not give further operational details about where the submarines were detected or how they were monitored, but he made clear that the UK’s naval and air assets remained engaged long enough to prevent the suspected surveillance from continuing.
The defence secretary’s remarks were made during a press conference at Downing Street, where he described the response as a successful demonstration of British maritime surveillance and deterrence capability.
The incident also underlines the importance of cooperation between naval and air forces in responding to possible threats around critical undersea networks. In this case, the Royal Navy warship and P8 patrol aircraft worked together over the course of more than a month to follow the movements of the Russian submarines and push them out of the area.
Healey said the operation showed the UK would act to protect essential infrastructure in and around its waters. The government has increasingly pointed to the security of undersea cables as a key part of its defence planning, given their role in supporting modern communications and economic activity.
