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UK Defense Secretary to Putin: “We’re Hunting Your Submarines”
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
The United Kingdom has reported a sharp rise in Russian submarine activity near its waters, reaching levels last seen during the Cold War.
According to BBC News, Defense Secretary John Healey said that Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy forces are actively tracking Russian vessels in the North Atlantic.
“We’re hunting your submarines,” Healey stated during a visit to RAF Lossiemouth, directly addressing Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
He added that the number of Russian vessels threatening UK waters has increased by 30 percent, calling it evidence of “Russian aggression right across the board,” which affects not only Ukraine but also the wider European region.
According to the UK Ministry of Defense, Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic has returned to Cold War–era levels. In response, the RAF and Royal Navy have intensified patrols, conducting daily—and at times round-the-clock—missions, often supported by NATO allies.
BBC News joined Healey aboard one of the RAF’s new P-8 Poseidon aircraft during an active mission. The P-8, based on a Boeing 737 airframe, is equipped with advanced cameras, sensors, and sonar buoys designed to detect and track submarines.
During the flight, the crew monitored both surface vessels and underwater targets, using a network of sensors and sonar buoys to identify Russian subs.
Last year, a P-8 aircraft, supported by the Royal Navy, tracked the Russian surveillance ship Yantar as it loitered near undersea cables in the Irish Sea. Western officials have warned that Russia could attempt to disrupt these cables as part of hybrid warfare tactics, potentially affecting global communications.
Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius joined Healey on the mission, underscoring growing UK-German defense cooperation.
Pistorius stated, “The North Atlantic is crucial, and it’s threatened by Russian nuclear submarines. Therefore, we need to know what’s going on here in the deep sea.”
According to BBC News, the visit also highlighted ongoing European efforts to strengthen coordination against Russian threats. Germany has ordered eight P-8 aircraft and plans to base patrol operations from RAF Lossiemouth.
The two nations are also collaborating on cyber defense and maritime technologies, including Germany’s purchase of UK-made Sting Ray torpedoes.
Earlier, the UK Ministry of Defense launched Atlantic Net, a surveillance drone network under Project CABOT aimed at detecting Russian submarines across the North Atlantic. The system will use autonomous, contractor-operated platforms to provide real-time underwater intelligence, forming part of a long-term shift toward unmanned anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
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