Military Space News
FLOATING STEEL
UK, Norway to jointly 'hunt Russian submarines' under new pact

UK, Norway to jointly 'hunt Russian submarines' under new pact

by AFP Staff Writers
London (AFP) Dec 4, 2025

Britain and Norway on Thursday unveiled a new defence pact that will see their navies jointly operate a warship fleet to "hunt Russian submarines" in the North Atlantic.

The agreement between the two NATO allies aims to protect critical undersea infrastructure, such as cables, that Western officials say is increasingly under threat from Moscow.

Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reported that sightings of Russian vessels in UK waters have increased 30 percent in the past two years.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store was met by his UK counterpart Keir Starmer for talks at Downing Street, in London.

Store hailed "a very important agreement on defence cooperation and integration".

"This is really about the present. This is about acknowledging where Europe stands and what we need to take care of security for the future," he added.

The two countries were "making significant steps... because we share waters, we share the strategic environment".

Under the new pact, the two countries will operate a fleet of at least 13 British-built frigates on an "interchangeable" basis.

The fleet "will hunt Russian submarines and protect critical infrastructure in the North Atlantic," the defence ministry said in a statement.

It will monitor Russian naval activity in the waters between Greenland, Iceland and the UK, "defending critical infrastructure such as underwater cables and pipelines, which carry vital communications, electricity and gas", the MoD said.

"At this time of profound global instability, as more Russian ships are being detected in our waters, we must work with international partners to protect our national security," said Starmer.

- 'Safe into the future' -

Last month, UK Defence Minister John Healey warned Russia after saying that its military ship Yantar had entered British waters for the second time this year.

He said it had directed lasers at British air force pilots in a "deeply dangerous" move.

Britain and NATO allies have expressed growing concern about the risk Moscow poses to offshore infrastructure following the suspected sabotage in recent months of several undersea telecom and power cables.

Experts and politicians have accused Moscow of orchestrating a hybrid war against Western countries, most of which support Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in 2022.

Norway announced in September the purchase of at least five Type-26 frigates from Britain for GBP 10 billion ($13 billion).

BAE Systems beat out competing bids for the frigates from French, German and US groups.

Starmer and Store visited a Royal Air Force base in Lossiemouth, northern Scotland, later Thursday to mark the signing of the pact.

The deal also sets out plans for year-round training for Royal Marines in Norway, "preparing them to fight in sub-zero conditions," the MoD said.

And the UK will join a Norwegian programme "to develop motherships for uncrewed mine hunting and undersea warfare systems".

"We will patrol the North Atlantic as one, train together in the Arctic, and develop the advanced equipment that will keep our citizens safe now and into the future," said Healey.

Related Links
Naval Warfare in the 21st Century

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
FLOATING STEEL
S. Korea leader says 'extremely difficult' to make nuclear subs in U
Seoul (AFP) Dec 3, 2025
South Korea's leader said Wednesday it would be "extremely difficult" to build its nuclear-powered submarines in the United States under a deal with Washington. South Korea is expected to join a small circle of countries that operate nuclear-powered submarines after receiving approval from the United States for the supply of restricted nuclear fuel. There is however no clarity on the production site of the submarines. US President Donald Trump has said on Truth Social that Seoul would manufa ... read more

FLOATING STEEL
Germany puts ballistic missile defence shield into service

What is Taiwan's T-Dome?

Space Force operationally accepts SciTec Forge missile warning ground system

SpaceX launches 21 satellites for U.S. military from California

FLOATING STEEL
Denmark starts work on rocket fuel facility for Ukraine

Sweden beefs up air defence in rearmament push

China slams Japan's plans to deploy missiles near Taiwan

Russian missile attack kills teenager in eastern Ukraine

FLOATING STEEL
Lockheed Martin trial shows AI system rerouting UAV mission during fuel contingency

Northrop Grumman debuts Project Talon autonomous combat wingman

Germany launches specialised anti-drone police unit

Indian authorities deploy drones to track killer wolves

FLOATING STEEL
Europe backs secure satellite communications with multibillion euro package

SpainSat NG programme completed as second secure communications satellite launches

New Laboratory Showcases Advanced Satcom Capabilities for Australian Defence Force

European Response to Escalating Space Security Crisis

FLOATING STEEL
NATO looking to be 'proactive' against Russian 'hybrid threats'; NATO to buy big from US to arm Ukraine

Five European NATO powers vow to tackle 'hybrid threats'

Sweden, Ukraine to develop new weapons together

Australian company Hypersonix secures major defence and aerospace investment for green hydrogen hypersonic flight

FLOATING STEEL
US to sell bombs to Canada in $2.7-bn deal

NATO allies vow major new purchases of US arms for Ukraine

Putin visits India for defence, trade talks

Arms makers see record revenues as global tensions fuel demand

FLOATING STEEL
Trump says Venezuela anti-drug operations 'by land' to begin 'soon'

NATO chief hails Trump efforts to end fighting in Ukraine; Rubio expected to skip NATO talks next week

China promises 'new giant pandas' for France as pair flies home

G20 grapples with splintering world order

FLOATING STEEL
Bright emission from hidden quantum states demonstrated in nanotechnology breakthrough

Novel technique reveals true behavior of next-generation MXenes

Unique phase of water revealed in nanoscale confinement

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.