Defence experts have warned MPs that the proposed Atlantic Bastion concept for monitoring submarine activity in the North Atlantic will depend heavily on having enough warships and submarines to track hostile vessels once they are detected.
Giving evidence to the Defence Committee during a session on Defence in the High North, analysts said the concept relies on a network of sensors, unmanned systems and surveillance technologies designed to identify Russian submarines moving into the North Atlantic.
Dr Marc De Vore, Senior Lecturer at the University of St Andrews, told MPs that the initiative is intended to monitor submarine movements and protect key sea lines of communication linking North America and Europe.
“Atlantic Bastion is using a variety of sensors, unmanned vessels, and underwater sensors to monitor traffic through the North Atlantic,” he said. “That means being able to identify Russian submarines as they try to transit towards the North Atlantic to areas where they could be a threat to us or our sea lines of communication.”
He explained that the concept builds on earlier Royal Navy work, including research conducted under Project CABOT. “It represents a judicious application of emerging technology to our security challenges,” he added.
However, De Vore warned that detection alone would not be sufficient if the Royal Navy lacked the platforms required to maintain contact with adversary submarines. “Where we may have a problem with the Atlantic Bastion is whether we have enough frigates or attack submarines of our own that are capable of following Russian submarines as they have been identified, so that the track is not lost,” he told the committee.
According to De Vore, Russian naval doctrine anticipates detection during transit through the North Atlantic and includes tactics designed to evade NATO tracking forces. “Their plan is essentially for their submarines to lose the NATO vessels trailing them in the Sargasso Sea, and then double back to whatever their intended target set is,” he said.
He also noted that Russia could attempt to surge submarines into the Atlantic before the outbreak of conflict, presenting a challenge for NATO forces that would be unable to engage them during peacetime.
“If they are surging through the Atlantic Bastion while it is still peacetime, we cannot sink them,” he said. “We therefore have to essentially remain in contact with them until the balloon goes up.”
The ability to sustain that contact would depend on having enough capable escort ships and submarines to pursue detected vessels across the North Atlantic. De Vore told MPs that this made continued investment in frigates and allied naval cooperation essential.
“Following through on our frigate purchases is not an either/or with the Atlantic Bastion, but it becomes useless if you cannot pursue afterwards,” he said.
He added that cooperation with NATO allies would also be critical, as partner nations possess additional escorts that could assist in tracking hostile submarines once detected.
More warships needed? WOW, I wish I was an expert. 🤔😊
Type 21 brings to mind when numbers were seen as important, now we read guff about unmanned “systems”. Then we used to have an industrial base that could build hulls. Thirty frigates and destroyers when we went down south, now we can muster about four or five at a time on a good day.
One word, banjaxed. We have floating gin palaces called carriers with second rate American aircraft/weapons. We need frigates and submarines.
We are not prepared for war. We are prepared for welfare however, with a thriving people import business, and a million young “neets” living off the state and mum and dad.
Still, it could be worse…..
What has been highlighted is essentially the fundamental flaw in every “defensive “ plan that has ever existed.. the moment a nation focuses on “Defence” as the only plan it has lost.. the Atlantic bastion without major surface combatants and SSNs that can go offensive, take the fight to the enemy nation is essentially the 21c maritime version of the Maginot Line.
Agreed. One must always take the offensive to any enemy.
Another readon I’m terrified of the left, we’d be an impotent defence force reacting to others moves as they set the world stage to their advantage.
Why can EXPERT analysis be simply be answered with ‘No shit’