Navy too slow to respond

HMS Dragon took more than three weeks to arrive in the eastern Mediterranean in March after an RAF base in Cyprus was struck by a drone. No warships were available.

MPs cite critical shortfalls

The defence select committee found the Royal Navy lacks enough submarines and warships to operate in the high north. Tan Dhesi, the committee chair, said the UK does not currently have all capabilities needed.

“The UK needs to be willing to address a hard truth: it does not currently have all the capabilities to operate successfully in the high north.”

Why the high north matters

The seas beyond Scotland have become strategically significant as Russia pursues energy pipelines and undersea cables.

Russian activity in UK waters

The Royal Navy shadowed the Russian spy ship Yantar operating inside the UK's economic waters in November and January last year.Sailors were accused of trying to map strategic cables and shining lasers at RAF pilots.

Frigate numbers falling short

The Navy has five frigates with sonar to detect Russian submarines at distance, lower than a target of eight.Ageing warships have been scrapped without replacements.

All submarines in dock at once

None of Britain's five Astute submarines were at sea from June into the summer. They were in dock for short-term and long-term refits. They also lack the capability to operate under ice, unlike Russian equivalents.

Spending constraints limit action

No significant extra money is expected for defence until the next decade. Keir Starmer agreed to lift defence spending to three point five percent of GDP by two thousand thirty five, but only to two…