During a parliamentary exchange on 18 November 2024, the UK Defence Journal was directly referenced in a question from Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, who raised concerns about the activities of the Russian research and intelligence vessel Yantar in the Irish Sea.
Carmichael highlighted the vessel’s presence near undersea cables, drawing attention to similar incidents in the North Sea and off Shetland last year.
Carmichael asked:
“On Friday, the UK Defence Journal reported on the activities of the Russian research and intelligence vessel Yantar in the Irish Sea, in the vicinity of various cables. This is not new; we had the same thing last year in the North Sea and off Shetland. Given the sheer quantity of cables and pipelines now in the seabed, what are the Government doing to ensure that that critical national infrastructure is properly protected?”
In response, Luke Pollard, Armed Forces Minister, reassured the House of the UK’s commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure, including undersea cables.
Pollard stated: “Let the House be in no doubt that the United Kingdom and our armed forces will defend our critical national infrastructure undersea cables. We have a strategy and armed forces protecting our cables, and we are working with our allies to do so.”
Pollard further indicated that the issue would likely be addressed in the upcoming strategic defence review, set for publication next year: “I suspect that that will also feature as a recommendation in the strategic defence review when it is published next year.”
The mention of the UK Defence Journal in Parliament underscores the publication’s role in bringing defence and security issues into the public eye, something we are very proud of.
The government’s response reflects a growing focus on undersea security, recognising the strategic importance of submarine cables and pipelines for national and international communications, energy, and trade.
These underwater lines are the most likely targets for Russian reprisals for Biden’s deep missile policy. The question is, have we enough resources to protect all lines?
It’s an interesting question in these days of grey zone attacks and fear of escalation. We can’t stop Russia damaging infrastructure, even if we had all the ships we wanted. They are entiitled to travel over the cables and once they are there, what can we do if they act? Blow up some Russian oil pipelines in an ecosystem wrecking fit of pique? We need to be able to catch them doing it with enough evidence to call them out internationally and demand reparations on pain of war. Russia is after plausible deniability (although, going by Salisbury, will settle for implausible deniability) in the hope that we won’t escalate to killing people. In the past Labour and Conservative governments have ignored Putin or just made ineffectual protests and he thinks the UK has no stomach for it. On the other hand, UK governments have acted when they’ve been signalling they wouldn’t (eg Falklands and Ukraine).
We need to get No 10, FO and MOD on the same page so we make our red lines clear and be prepared to act on them. That’s the best protection for our undersea infrastructure.
“what can we do if they act? ”
Sink the ship conducting the attack. Russia doesn’t understand anything other than violence.
We can start by sorting out the pay issues with the RFA so we can get the required assets to sea to check on our underwater assets, this is now passed urgent!
Not even necessarily reprisals. Once has just been cut between Finland and mainland Europe in the Baltic. I suspect that is a warning to the US and Europe not to allow long range missiles to be used against Russia.
Excellent news that the exposure of the UKDJ to an audience beyond those with a regular interest but to those who can make decisions and that are in a position to ask questions can only be a good thing.
Despite the ministers reply this remains a grey area as beyond tracking surface and subsurface activity there remains, AFAWK, no physical intervention.
I watched this debate live on BBC Parliament.
I was delighted when UKDJ was mentioned. Proof of quality!
How about the Irish Navy defending Irish waters? Is that controversial? Or should Ireland pay the real cost of Royal Navy deployment ?
How about charging AMAZON, google, Facebook to protect their under sea cables.
Biggest tax dodgers on the planet open up the biggest defence problem in international waters.
The Joyce and one of the 295’s were also involved in this operation, not that this site mentioned it from memory. When the Yantar crossed over into Irish waters she was challenged and shadowed by the Joyce till she left and then the 295 surveilled her. But last I looked the Isle of Mann is the UK’s area to patrol, not Ireland.
We replied with the same info at the same time. Great minds think a like. lol.
I’ll take that over the other half of the saying…lol
Ireland does need to improve its naval capabilities but in this case the LE James Joyce was deployed and hailed/blocked the Yantar from going further into the Irish EZ. A maritime patrol plane from the Irish Air corps also shadowed the Yantar at all times along with UK , US and French militaries in coordination.
Recruitment is ticking upwards, but too soon to say that side of it is fixed fully, Retention is still an issue, but the plans for the naval base upgrades might help along with the pay changes. Still waiting for word on what mods the P60s might get refitted with, but a lot more interest in the parties election manifestos in the area (well apart from our hard left idiots), have to wait and see of course as to what the next Government looks like.
A lot going on with the election coming. Hoping the upgrades are happening and effective. No half assed upgrades or refits.
The party debate I watched on RTÉ was comical. It was getting near a throwdown at a few points.
The left looneys always make my head shake.
Increase in pay is having an affect for recruitment for sure. My cousins boy has decided to join the Defence Force.
I honestly didn’t bother watching it, figured it was always going to end like that given the numbers they had on and the usual “style”. There was some interesting bits in the latest mag about how they are approaching the combined series of investments, I’m guessing though that the procurement staff are well overburdened given how many projects are meant to be happening.
And yeah, some of the “manifestos”, chirst you wonder what world these people live in.
Hope your cousins son gets on well, which branch is he thinking about?
The manifestos were all over the place. Gives me a rash.
He is a mechanic so he could go anywhere. Told him Air Corps myself.
Yeah, some look like they are copy and pasted, others just Tankie BS, some did have a few good points and promises but its wait and see as to who gets in and what gets hashed out I suppose.
And yeah as a Mechanic he can pretty much end up where he wants, with the other two services likely to try headhunting him during training.
If only the UK had sufficient Hunter-Killers to loiter by one of those russian (lowercase lack of respect intentional) spy ships; and then when said ship, or submersible it tenders acts maliciously…. send a Spearfish salvo to deal with the threat accordingly… all videoed in 4K and then uploaded to Youtube would be great 🙃
Maybe the silent service is already taking a little peek at them.
Of course that is also a direct act of war…
We are already at war with the russians. They have proven this much already.
With what exactly are we going to defend our sub-sea infrastructure? The drone mothership concept hasnt come into fruition, sterling castle and proteus aren’t even really in service for their intended roles. Meanwhile our MCM fleet has been cut, cut cut and our frigate numbers are now virtually non-existant.
Astute-class submarines.
Ex fishing vessels can perform “Guard vessel” duty around the nations CUI, reporting directly back to the MOD/NATO or Irish Naval Service, depending on its area of operations. This service can be provided cheaply and without major capital expenditure to the contracting government.
NIFPO currently have a number of suitable vessels ready for immediate deployment at reasonable daily rates. Naval liaison officers are welcome to be part of the crew to handle day to day operational control and “SIGINT”.
Feel free to contact either Harry Wick or myself, if you think we can be of service.