Britain calls in French to hunt Russian sub lurking off Scotland

A Royal Navy frigate, HMS Sutherland, and a hunter killer submarine have also been sent on the search

Telegraph: French patrol planes are scouring the seas off Scotland for a Russian submarine after Britain was forced to call on allies for help because it has scrapped its own sub-hunting aircraft.

A French Atlantique 2 maritime patrol plane has been searching for the submarine for at least 10 days, since the vessel was detected north of Scotland.

Britain scrapped its own Nimrod sub-hunting aircraft in 2010

A Royal Navy frigate, HMS Sutherland, and a hunter killer submarine have also been sent on the search, amid fears the Russian boat could be trying to spy on a Trident nuclear deterrent sub.

HMS Sutherland has been called into the hunt Photo: MoD

Britain scrapped its own Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft after the cost cutting 2010 defence review, leading to warnings from defence chiefs that the country would be left reliant on others for aircraft to search its own waters.

Admirals have argued that filling the gap is a priority for the Government’s defence review which will be unveiled on Monday. More here.

*** ‘Allied’ Aircraft Hunt Russian Sub Off Scotland

SkyNews: French patrol aircraft are reportedly among those helping with the search from RAF Lossiemouth.

Aircraft based at an RAF base are conducting “activity” off Scotland in response to reports a Russian submarine has been seen nearby, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

It is understood that a Royal Navy frigate and a submarine are also involved in the hunt.

It comes days after RAF Typhoons were forced to intercept Russian Tu-160 Blackjack aircraft that strayed into the vicinity of UK airspace.

The Sun on Sunday reported that a French patrol aircraft was carrying out the search as the UK no longer has any specialist sub-hunting aircraft.

Britain scrapped the RAF’s Nimrods with search capability in 2010 after the Strategic Defence Services Review.

The Telegraph reported that two French Atlantique 2 maritime patrol planes and a Canadian plane were now operating out of RAF Lossiemouth, about 37 miles (60km) east of Inverness.

The MoD admitted that allied planes were operating from the base but refused to comment on naval manoeuvres.

“We can confirm that allied maritime patrol aircraft based at RAF Lossiemouth for a limited period are conducting activity with the Royal Navy,” a statement said.

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“We do not discuss the detail of maritime operations.”

The search comes as the Prime Minister is due to announce a large investment in resources for the military, which has undergone several years of cuts.

One of the commitments is to buy nine Boeing P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft which will be capable of hunting submarines.

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Last year, the Ministry of Defence faced embarrassment when it emerged it had to seek the help of the US, France and Canada when trying to find another Russian submarine spotted off the west coast of Scotland.

At that time it was thought the Russian vessel was possibly tracking UK nuclear submarine movements from the Clyde.