‘Glaring gaps’ in military capability leave UK exposed to Russian attacks in High North, MPs warn
Critical flaws in Britain's High North military posture leave the public, subsea pipelines and the nuclear deterrent exposed to Russian aggression, MPs have warned, highlighting "glaring gaps" in defence capabilities.
The Commons Defence Committee stated that "dramatic progress" must be achieved to strengthen UK armed forces and naval vessels in the strategically vital region before 2030 – the year former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer suggested Moscow could launch an attack on Nato.
Security in the High North has become increasingly crucial for Britain, particularly as Vladimir Putin’s Russia dispatches regional spy vessels into UK waters while questions surround Washington’s commitment to European safety.
A failure to safeguard the area could leave critical underwater cables and pipelines carrying key data and energy exposed to deliberate peacetime sabotage, the committee noted.
It added that in the event of conflict, Russia would be positioned to target the British population, civilian and military infrastructure, and vital Atlantic supply corridors originating from the US.
Committee chairman Tan Dhesi said: “The High North poses a major strategic challenge for the UK’s security. This is a demanding, hostile environment, and one that our greatest adversary, Russia, is seeking to dominate for military advantage.
“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.
“Russian submarine and sabotage forces in the High North pose direct risks to the North Atlantic and the UK, including the nuclear deterrent.
“Despite this, the Ministry of Defence has accepted a serious anti-submarine warfare gap.
“Publicly available evidence of low availability among destroyers, frigates and attack submarines calls into question whether the UK can meet its commitments in the High North.
“And if the UK Government means what it says – that Russia could attack Nato as soon as 2030 – then work to rectify these vulnerabilities cannot start soon enough.”
Lawmakers emphasised an acute deficit in anti-submarine warfare at a time when Moscow’s greatest threat stems from its submarine fleet and naval sabotage units.
While Royal Navy anti-submarine warships and nuclear-powered submarines remain the premier deterrent, these assets are increasingly old and frequently sidelined by ongoing maintenance work.
There are currently five Type 23 frigates, which track down hostile submarines and protect the UK’s nuclear weapons, and six Type 45 destroyers in service – just over half of the Royal Navy’s requirement for 19 vessels.
Eight new Type 26 frigates will eventually take over, but with construction slow, the Defence Committee urged ministers to ensure that none of the remaining ones leaves service in the meantime.
The committee’s inquiry also heard of “a shockingly low availability” of submarines, and that the UK appeared to have temporarily lost its ability to operate them beneath Arctic ice.
This would allow Russia in a conflict to conceal its nuclear submarines under the ice unchallenged while its attack submarines surge forward.
The committee also questioned whether the Joint Expeditionary Force (Jef), a UK-led military coalition of northern European nations, should focus more on threats in the High North rather than maintaining the same level of activity in the Baltic region.
Mr Dhesi urged ministers to consider this “particularly if the UK has to plan for uncertainty over US support for Nato”.
And to offset the effects of any greater Jef focus on the High North, the UK may need to consider bolstering the current British Army force in the Baltics, notably in Estonia, he said.
The Kremlin is seeking to exploit the High North, loosely defined as the Arctic and parts of the North Atlantic, for minerals and for control over shipping routes as melting sea ice makes them more accessible.
It comes as Britain’s biggest warship, HMS Prince of Wales, departed Portsmouth Naval Base in Hampshire to lead the UK Carrier Strike Group on a deployment to the Arctic and North Atlantic.
The aircraft carrier left on Sunday, with dozens of people gathering to wave and take pictures as the warship made its way out of the harbour.
The deployment marks the second phase of Operation Firecrest, which will focus on operational readiness, training, and strengthening Nato interoperability.
The Royal Navy said stealth fighter jets would return to the skies in the High North.
It said deployment of the flagship aircraft carrier alongside Nato allies “is a powerful shield for the nation, ensuring that the critical energy, trade, and communication links we all rely on every day in the region remain secure”.
Conservative shadow minister for war readiness Stuart Anderson said: “This Defence Committee report exposes glaring capability gaps in the High North at a time when the threat of war with Russia is rising.
“If Nato could be at war with Russia as soon as 2030, as the former prime minister warned, that means time is just as important as money.
“To deter war we must be ready for it, that means spending money now, not kicking the can down the road until it’s too late.
“The Chancellor must come to the Budget with his plan for spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030 – anything less leaves Britain at risk in the High North.”
An MoD spokesperson said: “We are clear-eyed about the threat Russia poses. During his recent visit to Iceland, the Defence Secretary saw firsthand how HMS St Albans helps track and deter Russian submarine activity across the North Atlantic.
“Through the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, we are leading allied activity across the High North, strengthening Nato’s northern flank and increasing our ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats.
“This government is also investing in the capabilities needed to meet those threats, with £1.5 billion backing Atlantic Bastion to deliver a next-generation Hybrid Navy and a further £330 million to strengthen the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.”