The government has confirmed that it is developing a new seabed warfare strategy to protect critical undersea cables and infrastructure amid growing concerns about foreign interference and sabotage.
Responding to a question in the House of Lords from Viscount Stansgate on 27 October, Defence Minister Lord Coaker said the Ministry of Defence “keeps the threat to undersea cables connected to the UK under close review” and that “the MoD constantly monitors activity within UK waters.”
He noted that Royal Navy assets, maritime patrol aircraft, and the multi-role ocean surveillance programme all play roles in deterring and responding to potential threats.
Lord Coaker said that following the Strategic Defence Review, “the Royal Navy will play a new leading and co-ordinating role, alongside the private sector, in securing undersea pipelines, cables and maritime traffic.”
Viscount Stansgate, who previously served on the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, highlighted the growing risks to subsea data networks, noting that the Committee’s report found “security vulnerabilities abound” and recommended the creation of a UK-flagged sovereign repair ship for escort by the Royal Navy.
In response, Lord Coaker confirmed that the government is acting on those recommendations, stating, “We certainly should develop one, and we are developing one.”
He outlined current measures, including the use of “surveillance aircraft from Lossiemouth, the ship ‘Proteus’ looking at how it protects underwater assets, and the Royal Navy ship ‘Stirling Castle’ looking at how it might operate drones from its deck to secure underwater pipelines, data cables and so on.”
Billions more for future projects that may or may not enter service in 20 years time and cutting current capabilities.
Did I guess it right?
* Just to add, I haven’t got a problem with spending billions on future projects, just we have huge gaps that need filling now.
The seabed warfare strategy, oh come on, with the clowns we have in charge (and previously) it will involve 3 blokes in snorkelling kit with a home made spyglass out of a drainpipe tube, like you did as a kid. These fools in charge will continue to kick all the cans down the road, especially the big bucks acquisitions and plans, as they know they will not be in power after the next election.
Very much this mate.
The stock answers from MoD, HMG and Lords are so frustrating.
““the MoD constantly monitors activity within UK waters.”
With minimal assets.
“He noted that Royal Navy assets, maritime patrol aircraft, and the multi-role ocean surveillance programme all play roles in deterring and responding to potential threats.”
Stating the obvious, not what is being done about it. And none of them deter.
““the Royal Navy will play a new leading and co-ordinating role, alongside the private sector, in securing undersea pipelines, cables and maritime traffic.”
This has been happening back to the Cold War so why a “new leading role now”?
“He outlined current measures, including the use of “surveillance aircraft from Lossiemouth, the ship ‘Proteus’ looking at how it protects underwater assets, and the Royal Navy ship ‘Stirling Castle’ looking at how it might operate drones from its deck to secure underwater pipelines, data cables and so on.”
P8’s far too few, a solitary ship with no means AFAIK to actually stop or prevent, only monitor, and Stirling Castle which has been laid up for the best part of a year as it had no crew and had to be transferred to the RN. And isn’t Stirling Castle meant to be one of 4 mother vessels for the MCM side, not MROS side?
The usual stock answers, where is the urgency or any real action?
I think it will take a major attack for the MoD to actually wake up sadly.
Waking up will be a shock to those idiots. We are basically defenceless in so many areas it beggars belief. Any nutter with a drone swarm could knock out major infrastructure targets with ease. Gooberment and MoD know that.
Its bonkers isnt it? The damage you can do with a few couple hundred pound drones equipped with some explosives.
The fact that only now are they giving the army powers to shoot down drones around military bases and other potentiol criticial infrastructure is a joke.
True. The PTB are just waking up to reality. Thats why I would never have sanctioned drone ownership by civilians. My nightmare is an attack on a mass crowd event like a football game. Like all “civil liberties” this one went too, too far. Just my two pennorth. I shoot, and we have to put up with the damned things in the hands of animal rights nutters. And we are legally powerless to do anything about it.
Completely separate from the article, but I have just realised with the placement of RFA Proteus’ bridge and landing pad combo, she does strongly resemble wearing a cap, or using her hand to cover her eyes from the sun.