UK without surveillance aircraft as Russians call

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.