New undersea technology to counter threat from Russia

The UK has unveiled new undersea warfare technology designed to counter the threat from Russia.

The Atlantic Bastion programme is designed to make Britain more secure secure from Russian undersea threats in the North Atlantic through a transformation of the Royal Navy and its submarine-hunting capabilities.

Atlantic Bastion will combine autonomous vessels and AI with warships and aircraft to create a highly advanced hybrid force to protect undersea cables and pipelines.

The announcement follows a resurgence in Russian submarine and underwater activity, including the activities of Russian spy ship Yantar around UK waters.

UK Defence Intelligence believes that Putin is currently modernising his fleet to target critical undersea cables and pipelines.

A combined MOD/industry seedcorn investment of £14 million has already been committed this year to testing and development and 26 firms from the UK and Europe have submitted proposals to develop anti-submarine sensor technology.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: "People should be in no doubt of the new threats facing the UK and our allies under the sea, where adversaries are targeting infrastructure that is so critical to our way of life.

"This new era of threat demands a new era for defence, and we must rapidly innovate at a wartime pace to maintain the battlefield edge as we deliver on the Strategic Defence Review.

"Our pioneering Atlantic Bastion programme is a blueprint for the future of the Royal Navy. It combines the latest autonomous and AI technologies with world-class warships and aircraft to create a highly advanced hybrid fighting force to detect, deter and defeat those who threaten us."