25 %

of Europe’ s energy supplies transit the North Sea

95 %

of international data traffic carried by undersea cables

6

NATO nations border these waters

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“ What that does in the North Atlantic is turn a fleet of nine P-8 aircraft into a fleet of around 40 P-8 aircraft that can do what we need to do over the sea,” says Squadron Leader Armitage.“ The key message is not that the UK only has nine, but that we’ ve got 40 aircraft in Europe that could deal with whatever threats we need to address.”

This international collaboration extends to data sharing and mission handovers. If one aircraft needs to return to base, it can transfer tracking data to an incoming allied aircraft, ensuring continuous monitoring of submarines or surface vessels.