DATA & ANALYTICS
T he North Sea represents one of Europe’ s most strategically important waterways.
Bordered by six
NATO nations, it serves as a conduit for approximately 25 % of Europe’ s energy supplies, while a complex network of telecommunications cables carry 95 % of international data traffic and power interconnectors between European nations.
It’ s this strategic significance that makes the North Sea a prime area of interest for Russian submarine operations. Since 2014, when relations between Russia and NATO deteriorated following the annexation of Crimea, Russian naval activity in this region has increased significantly. Russian submarines can potentially gather intelligence on NATO naval movements, monitor military exercises, conduct reconnaissance of undersea infrastructure and track the UK’ s nuclear deterrent submarines as they depart their bases.
For the crews at RAF Lossiemouth, tracking these underwater movements has become a round-the-clock mission of national importance. When Russian vessels appeared in the North Sea during King Charles’ s coronation in 2023, it was these RAF teams who monitored their every move, using the fleet of Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft that have revolutionised Britain’ s maritime surveillance capabilities.
78 May 2025