The Royal Navy and RAF have been actively involved in the interception and monitoring of Russian military movements near UK waters.
Four Russian naval vessels were closely shadowed by HMS Iron Duke and HMS Tyne, while RAF jets scrambled to intercept Russian Bear-F aircraft operating near UK airspace, according to a Ministry of Defence press release.
Readers should be aware that the aircraft did not enter UK airspace.
HMS Iron Duke, a Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate, took part in a six-day operation, during which it shadowed the Kilo-class submarine Novorossiysk and its supporting tug Evgeny Churov as they passed through the Dover Strait into the Atlantic. The operation began in early September, with Canadian warship HMCS Shawinigan initially escorting the Russian submarine from the Baltic Sea through the North Sea, before handing over monitoring duties to the Royal Navy. HMS Iron Duke tracked the Russian vessels throughout their passage in UK waters, using a variety of sensors, including its Wildcat helicopter, to maintain constant watch.
Once the Russian vessels exited UK waters, HMS Iron Duke handed over surveillance responsibilities to the French Navy’s frigate FS Auvergne off the northwest coast of France. This marked the end of one mission, but HMS Iron Duke was quickly called into action again to shadow the Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoiky and tanker MT Yaz as they approached Dover. This second mission involved coordination with Belgian patrol vessel BNS Castor before HMS Iron Duke again passed monitoring duties to HMS Tyne as the Russian ships continued their journey.
The RAF’s role in the operation saw two Typhoon jets launched from RAF Lossiemouth on 11 September, tasked with intercepting two Russian Bear-F bombers operating near UK airspace. Supported by a Voyager tanker from RAF Brize Norton, the RAF fighters were under NATO command and escorted the Russian aircraft out of the UK’s Flight Information Region. At no time did the Russian bombers enter UK sovereign airspace, with the interception demonstrating the RAF’s high-readiness Quick Reaction Alert capabilities, which operate 24/7 to defend UK skies.
Defence Secretary John Healey praised the professionalism of the UK armed forces, noting their critical role in maintaining national security. “This government is committed to making the UK secure at home and strong abroad. Efforts by the Royal Navy and RAF over the last two weeks demonstrate their selfless commitment to protecting our national security.” Healey also expressed gratitude for the personnel involved in the operation, stating their “professionalism and skill was on full display while working seamlessly with our NATO allies to uphold international standards.”
HMS Iron Duke’s Commanding Officer, Commander David Armstrong, reflected on the mission’s success, stating, “These were the fourth and fifth such operations for HMS Iron Duke since we emerged from a period of intense training in July, and I am extremely proud of the professionalism and selfless dedication that my ship’s company consistently display as they perform their duty.”
He added that maritime security operations of this nature are fundamental to the Royal Navy, emphasising the importance of protecting the UK’s sovereign waters and critical national infrastructure.
Hi folks hope all is well.
I often wonder when I read and here of such matters what would happen if the Russian military stubbornly did not take any notice and deliberately come into UK territorial waters? Would the RAF or Royal Navy take action? What are the rules of engagement and would it be the Prime Minister to authorise action of shooting down a Russian fighter plain . Ifcthe latter, that would be a joke, the pants would be soiled in seconds in making a decision.
Cheers
George
I remember some panic a few years ago when a Russian task group was suddenly discovered in the moray firth ( but outside the 12 mile limit) but not that far from Lossie as the crow flies…sheltering from a storm apparently. Caused a real panic.
Should we not make sure we have air defence of the U.K. before pissing of Russia
You got your post through George, mine wasn’t as these here are like the rest of the main stream media, they don’t like the truth. Give this lot a miss unless you are bashing the Russians then its fine.
Hi Joe, I emailed you last night to explain that there’s a queue of comments because I am currently looking after my unwell baby. That you choose to ignore this and then insult ourselves and our community is beyond the pale.
I in no way insulted your community George and apologise i did not see an email from yourself. Although you allowed my further posts but still did not the original to me says it all. Sorry read this article and tried to comment, please remove my comments. Thanks
At first glance I thought that tailfin said BBC PRODUCTION……🤔
Well spotted! Kind of neat looking aircraft aren’t they?
good old Tyne. that’s showing Ivan that he should come near old blighty.. not.
The Russians have tested us for decades like this but the concern now is that this country along with some of the nato countries and of course under the command of the worst presidency i can remember in the states want all out war with Russia. You have to question the sanity of these people.
They have reneged on past agreements that more or less guaranteed peace between us. Pushing ever further eastwards our tax payers money sending Typhoons to fly up and down the Russian border poking/probing.
Now after their overseeing the end of the previous government of Ukraine and installing a puppet government, guiding them into conflict by, in short, allowing without restraining in shelling their own Russian speaking folk in the Donbas region for wanting to belong to Russia for fourteen years so here we are with over a half a million dead and for what ? why riches for the rulers of course we poor plebs have to watch and for some do the dying.
With the elections only weeks away in the states they are pushing to take it further before Donald Trump takes over ( maybe they thought he would not be here to stand or is that should not have been but for half an inch) and starts looking for peace, Putin knows this too and god help us he may not bite at their provocation before November. Don’t believe any of what i have written, afraid you are being misled, i urge you to read/seek the truth from a reliable source…..not the bbc or cnn.
Peace was on the table just after this started but Johnson flew to Ukraine and urged him ( Zelensky) to fight, the plan all along ? of course not Zelensky himself up the front risking death/dying ….no no , folk just like us. Well of course what will happen if this escalates is everyone will go as we all should realise, their will be no winner and all because of the greed of few.
Does anyone else agree that in just a handful of years the whole world appears to have been turned upside down ?
Love your name by the way….impartial😂
Hi Joe, what part of reporting their movements upsets you?
Hi George…..What it was, i wrote rather a long piece that was not published here, point i was trying to prove was stay on the narrative of all the media and you have a platform. Nothing against your post, that is correct. My point i had written about was the fact that we in the west have caused what is happening and we are a click away from total destruction.