Russian spy ship pointed lasers at RAF pilots tracking it, says Healey
It is the first time a Russian spy ship based in British waters has used a laser to disrupt RAF pilots monitoring its activities, the defense secretary has said.
John Healey told a Downing Street press conference that the government was taking the “extremely dangerous” move “extremely seriously”.
He added that the ship named Yantar was located in the north of Scotland and entered British waters for the second time this year in the last few weeks.
The ship was “designed to gather intelligence and map our undersea cables,” Healey told reporters.
“My message to Russia and Putin is: We see you. We know what you are doing. If Yantar goes south this week, we are ready too,” he added.
Giving further details about the ship, Healey said: “It is part of a Russian fleet designed to compromise and hold our and our allies’ submarine infrastructure.
“This is not just a naval operation. It is part of a Russian program run by what is called the Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research, or GUGI, and is designed to have capabilities for surveillance in peacetime and sabotage in conflict.
“That is why we are determined to track Yantar once it enters Britain’s vast waters, to deter it and to tell Putin we are ready, and we are doing so together with our allies.”
He said it was a demonstration of Britain’s capacity and “readiness to act”.
defense secretary He issued a warning in January About the ship spotted in British waters.
He told a Downing Street press conference that this was the first time Yantar had used lasers in an attempt to “disturb” RAF pilots, describing it as “extremely dangerous” and something the UK “takes very seriously”.
He said the Royal Navy had changed its rules of engagement so that Yantar could be monitored more closely “while it is in our wider waters”.
“We have military options ready in case Yantar changes course. I will not explain them because it will only make President Putin smarter,” he said.
Britain and its NATO allies are concerned about the risk Russia poses to overseas cables, pipelines and other infrastructure critical to internet connectivity.
In his speech, the defense minister warned of Russia’s attacks on NATO airspace, as well as threats posed by China and armed conflicts around the world, adding: “Our world is changing. Less predictable. More dangerous.”
Ministry of Defense stepped in Criticism to the commission consisting of MPs Because they are overly dependent on US defense resources and are unprepared to defend the UK and its overseas territories against military attack.
The committee said Britain and its European allies needed to improve their capabilities to prepare for a possible US withdrawal.
Healey told the committee the UK government “had a different view” on America’s commitment to NATO.
“NATO’s strength is not only about the defense of Europe, it is also about the defense of America,” he told reporters.
But he said the committee was right to say the UK “must step up our commitment”, something Labor had done since coming to power last year.
The report comes as British negotiators race with the EU to reach a deal that would see British defense companies contribute to projects financed by a new €150bn (£130bn) EU defense loan scheme will start next year.
The Labor government wants to reach a deal in the coming weeks that would allow British companies to take part in a first round of bids from EU countries, with applications to be completed by the end of this month.
Healey told reporters that England wanted to be part of the programme, but not “at any cost”; amid reports that the two sides are at odds over the entry fee the UK can pay to enable British firms to join.
He added that any financial contribution to participation must “deliver value for money for our taxpayers and our industry”.
