UK without surveillance aircraft as Russians call

By David Maddox
Published on Wednesday 14 December 2011 00:00

THE appearance of a Russian navy battlegroup off the coast of Scotland last night raised fresh concerns over the UK government’s decision not to have any surveillance aircraft.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) sources told The Scotsman that a Type 42 destroyer, HMS York, had to be despatched from Portsmouth to shadow the group of Russian ships, 25 miles off the coast of Moray.

The battlegroup, headed by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, was understood to be sheltering from extreme weather conditions just outside UK territorial waters, but inside its exclusive economic zone.

In the past, a Nimrod aircraft would have flown from RAF Kinloss in Moray to observe the group. However, because the replacement Nimrods were cancelled and Kinloss was closed in the strategic defence and security review last year, the UK has had no surveillance available.

One of the greatest concerns about the loss of surveillance aircraft was the protection of the northern passages.

It is understood this Russian battlegroup was heading for manoeuvres in the Mediterranean, stopping at Beirut, Genoa and Cyprus en route.

Last night, SNP Moray MP and defence spokesman Angus Robertson said: “It is entirely normal for Russian and other navies to lay up to avoid extreme weather conditions.

“However, it does seem tremendously symbolic that within months of military cuts in Scotland, the Royal Navy needs to deploy a conventional vessel from the south coast of England because there are no maritime patrol aircraft based in Scotland.”

The MoD does not comment on military manoeuvres.

However, the department has said that Nimrod was cancelled because of safety concerns and cost.

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SlyFifer

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 08:22 AM

There is nothing about the UK Defence policy I understand, unless and of-course, the MOD in London have already written off Scotland as a base for operations. So it's over to the Security and Defence policy of the SNP !. Well, what is it ?. Little point in complaining about inadequacies in UK policy when there is no policy for Scotland. This is not government by the SNP this is abrogation of responsibility. I did find a policy on-line which dealt satisfactorily with this precise kind of situation, it was the Security and Defence policy of the SDA, go check it out !.

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ELDee

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 04:32 AM

#1, I have had a read at the SDA website and the defence paper in particular; its not bad for a first pass but it needs tightening up a bit and a bit more detail because scotland could have reasonably good defence force that could play its part in the North East Atlantic with our neighbours and support of UNIFOR oprations. I agree that any defence plan needs decent maritime patrol aircraft with the range and capaility to deal with threats and snoopers well out into the Atlantic.

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Beachdair

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 01:52 AM

Here is another good example of why Scotland should be independent. The UK's defence forces have been cut back so much that there are no maritime patrol aircraft based in Scotland even though there is an obvious need for them. The defence force of independent Scotland would not be so fooliish. ..................... The Scottish Democratic Alliance (SDA) is very aware of the security and defence issues which will face independent Scotland. We have developed a comprehensive planning document for condsideration by the Scottish government and public. It is available for free download at scottishdemocraticalliance dot org slash International slash Security & Defence. Scroll down to download the PDF documents.

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