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UK hunting Russian sub off Scotland asks for (needs?) assist from France and Canada

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  • UK hunting Russian sub off Scotland asks for (needs?) assist from France and Canada

    Saw this in this morning's news-feed...

    RAF is hunting for a Russian submarine thought to have been off the coast of Scotland for at least 10 days and asks France and Canada for help as Britain no longer has the equipment

    November 23, 2015 Monday 2:27 PM GMT

    RAF plane, Royal Navy frigate, HMS Sutherland and submarine in search joined by French and Canadian patrol aircraft off coast of Scotland. Britain scrapped its own specialist sub-hunting aircraft five years ago. Russia has dramatically stepped up its undersea patrols in last 18 months.

    The RAF is searching for a Russian submarine believed to have been off the coast of Scotland for at least 10 days.

    An RAF plane, a Royal Navy frigate, HMS Sutherland and submarine are also involved in the search along with French and Canadian maritime patrol aircraft.

    Britain scrapped its own specialist sub-hunting aircraft after a defence review five years ago, which has led Britain to increasingly rely on assistance from its allies.

    The latest operation is the third time in only a year Britain has required help to hunt for a Russian submarine in the area.

    It comes days after RAF Typhoons were forced to intercept Russian Tu-160 Blackjack aircraft that strayed into the vicinity of UK airspace en route to Syria.

    In the last 18 months, Russia has dramatically stepped up its undersea patrols amid warnings the lack of patrols was allowing Russia to spy on the UK's nuclear deterrent.

    The Ministry of Defence declined to give details of the operation, but confirmed allied planes were helping the Navy from RAF Lossiemouth.

    The search comes as David Cameron is set to give details of a large investment in resources for the military to MPs this afternoon.

    After five years of cuts including the army shrinking by a fifth, Mr Cameron will promise an extra £12billion for defence equipment by raiding the budgets for police, transport and welfare.

    Britain will buy a new fleet of maritime patrol aircraft (which were scrapped in 2010) and create two new rapid-reaction 'strike brigades'.

    The Prime Minister will also announce a 10-year extension to the operational lifespan of the RAF's Typhoon jets and upgrade work to give them ground attack capabilities - effectively adding two additional frontline squadrons.

    He said Britain's priorities are to 'deter state-based threats, tackle terrorism, remain a world leader in cyber security and ensure we have the capability to respond rapidly to crises as they emerge.'

    A study last month said Vladimir Putin's 'military aggressions' towards the UK were alarming because Moscow has been able to gain valuable information about the Ministry of Defence's chain of command and response systems.

    The report, by the Henry Jackson Society think thank, warned of the 'strategic dangers' to Britain should it not take seriously the threat posed by Russia.
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  • #2
    Why don't they ask us, we need the practice against actual Russian subs, they're a bit scarce down this way nowadays.
    http://www.airforce.mil.nz/about-us/...raft/orion.htm
    In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

    Leibniz

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    • #3
      The UK just ordered 9 P-8 Poseidons from Boeing with delivery dates "before 2020".

      It wouldn't surprise me if the UK decides to send some crews over to get trained on the aircraft immediately, and works out a deal with the US to acquire a couple of those jets around the time the crews finish training. A delivery time measured in months rather than years probably sounds pretty good with Russian subs prowling around.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by SteveDaPirate View Post
        The UK just ordered 9 P-8 Poseidons from Boeing with delivery dates "before 2020".

        It wouldn't surprise me if the UK decides to send some crews over to get trained on the aircraft immediately, and works out a deal with the US to acquire a couple of those jets around the time the crews finish training. A delivery time measured in months rather than years probably sounds pretty good with Russian subs prowling around.
        The UK has had embedded crews with the P-8, P-3 etc for years through project Seedcorn.
        https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...-proje-368936/
        Thats a future qualified instructor cadre if ever I saw one. I wouldn't be surprised to see some kind of interim "lease" before 2020.
        "Liberty is a thing beyond all price.

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