A former RAF chief has claimed that Britain is “vulnerable” to an attack which nobody is “keeping an eye on”.
The UK is heavily invested in wars in Gaza and Ukraine, supplying kit, equipment and training to allies engaged with enemies supported by Britain’s adversaries.
But as the world’s attention focuses on more conventional threats, Air Vice-Marshal Sean Bell believes that a less conventional threat is staring Britain in the face.
He told GB News: “Something which has caused a lot of concern for some time is the vulnerability of our undersea pipelines, data and power cables.”
Underwater cables are the conduit to which the vast majority of the UK’s data and internet connectivity pass through, with damage posing genuine national security risks rather than mere inconvenience.
In September 2022, blasts tore apart two pipelines intended to ship Russian gas to Germany, highlighting the ability of malign actors to target a nation’s infrastructure and demonstrating the impact such an attack could have. It was widely believed that Russia was responsible for the sabotage.
In response, the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace ordered the Ministry of Defence to accelerate plans to introduce a new multi-role ocean surveillance capability to safeguard critical national infrastructure.
The capability, known as RFA Proteus entered service in 2023 and bolsters the UK’ counter seabed warfare capabilities which already patrols by Astute-class submarines patrols and RAF maritime patrol aircraft.
Speaking at the time the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, said there has been a “phenomenal increase in Russian submarine and underwater activity” over the last 20 years.
Last month, Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael raised concerns about the activities of the Russian research and intelligence vessel Yantar in the Irish Sea.
Carmichael discussed the vessel’s proximity to vital underwater cables as well as incidents in the North Sea and off Shetland last year.
He said in a parliamentary exchange: “On Friday, the UK Defence Journal reported on the activities of the Russian research and intelligence vessel Yantar in the Irish Sea, in the vicinity of various cables. This is not new; we had the same thing last year in the North Sea and off Shetland.
“Given the sheer quantity of cables and pipelines now in the seabed, what are the Government doing to ensure that that critical national infrastructure is properly protected?”
In response, Luke Pollard, Armed Forces Minister, reassured the House of the UK’s commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure, including undersea cables.
Pollard stated: “Let the House be in no doubt that the United Kingdom and our armed forces will defend our critical national infrastructure undersea cables. We have a strategy and armed forces protecting our cables, and we are working with our allies to do so.”
