Led by President Vladimir Putin, the Russians are constantly probing UK defences in search of gaps and weaknesses. Consequently the first of nine P8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), produced by US-based Boeing Defense, Space & Security and delivered to the RAF earlier this year – have arrived not a minute too soon, defence expert Iain Ballantyne said. He told Express.co.uk: “There has been a yawning hole in UK defences since the catastrophic coalition defence review of 2010, which discarded key military capabilities including scrapping the RAF’s entire Nimrod long-range Maritime Patrol Aircraft force.
“This meant when Russians subsequently came snooping around British waters – including trying to detect and trail Trident missile submarines – the UK Government had to call on allies such as the USA, France, Canada and Norway to help try and find those intruders.”
As a result, NATO allies have supplied the UK’s maritime air patrols since 2011, monitoring the seas around Britain for submarine intruders.
Mr Ballantyne added: “Creating a ten-year MPA gap was a cavalier and reckless act. At the same time as the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition got rid of the Nimrods, it also cut Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates while Merlin helicopters numbers also fell.
“But force levels across the Navy, including submarines, have under successive governments – including Labour – declined to a dangerous degree.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is probing for gaps in the UK’s defences, said Mr Ballantyne (Image: GETTY)
About the P8A (Image: Daily Express)
“To truly defend the UK from all manner of security threats at sea, on the surface of the sea and under it, the country needs aircraft like the Poseidon, frigates and destroyers, along with helicopters and also hunter-killer submarines.
“The Poseidon restores just one key element of those defences. Much urgent work remains to be done across the board to maintain, and boost, the UK’s maritime defences.”
Once deployed, the P8s will provide a vital role in tracking down Russian vessels, “cueing in” submarines, frigates or Merlin helicopters to launch an attack if necessary if they are unable to do so themselves.
Mr Ballantyne said their acquisition serves as a clear indication of current international tensions, especially with respect to Russia.
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Russia could launch a devastating strike on the UK from a submarine (Image: GETTY)
There are some in the political and military leadership in the UK who continue to ignore the scale of the the Russia threat at sea – who do not take it seriously – but they are so wrong
He added: “There are some in the political and military leadership in the UK who continue to ignore the scale of the the Russia threat at sea – who do not take it seriously – but they are so wrong.
“The Kremlin is investing in certain undersea capabilities that enable it to, for example, interfere with, or even cut off, UK internet connections with the world – by severing or tapping into seabed communications cables upon which the web relies.
“The Russians are also constructing new nuclear missile submarines that could wipe the UK off the face of the planet with a single strike.
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Russian submarines are probing UK defences (Image: GETTY)
The P8A Poseidon MPA (Image: GETTY)
“There are also attack submarines joining the Russian fleet that are armed with long-range missiles capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads and that’s just the offensive element of the undersea threat.
“The Russians remain determined also to probe UK defences and, if they can, to trail and expose the UK’s own Trident missile submarines.
“They aim to rip a hole in the nuclear umbrella, to humiliate and defang a key NATO power.
A factfile about Russian submarine the Pskov (Image: GETTY)
“Combined with ruthlessly pursued unconventional warfare, the submarine forces of Russia pose an existential threat to the UK.
“It’s a good idea to know where their submarines – and also submersible-carrying spy ships – are and what they are up to.
“Poseidon along with the frigates, attack submarines and ASW are essential – and we need more of them.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (Image: GETTY)
“Working with NATO allies is fine, but is it is time for the UK to pick up the challenge again of leading the ASW effort in the North Atlantic.
“There are new technologies, such as air, sea and sub-sea drones that will help, but those technologies have limitations and have yet to mature.”
Iain Ballantyne is the Editor of the monthly goal naval news magazine WARSHIPS International Fleet Review www.warshipsifr.com and also author of ‘The Deadly Trade’, which tells the story of submarine warfare from ancient times to the present and also ‘Hunter Killers’ which tells the story of the Royal Navy’s submariners in their struggle with the Russia foe during the Cold War. Visit www.expressbookshop.co.uk