German aircraft to track Russian subs off UK coast as countries sign new defence pact
German P-8 surveillance aircraft will soon be deployed from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland to track Russian submarines in the North Atlantic.
This deployment comes as part of a new defence pact known as the Trinity House Agreement, a landmark deal that brings together the UK and Germany to strengthen their defence capabilities across air, land, sea, and cyber domains.
Also central to the agreement is establishing a new artillery gun barrel factory in the UK, expected to create more than 400 jobs and inject nearly £500m into the British economy over the next decade.
Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius added that the UK and Germany failed to respond to the threat posed by Vladimir Putin for too long, saying: "I always stress that the Baltics and Scandinavian countries, they woke up (in) 2014 to the annexation of the Crimea.
"We woke up, too: Germany, Britain, France and other countries in Europe; but what we did was we pushed the snooze button and turned around.
"All the other countries stayed awake, and they did what was necessary to do. And so we lost almost eight years and have now to speed up."
Mr Pistorius emphasised the urgency of enhancing Nato's capabilities and not taking security in Europe for granted as the war continues in Ukraine.
"With the Trinity House Agreement, we are showing that Nato allies have recognised what these times require and are determined to improve their deterrence and defence capabilities," he added.
The deal will also see the two nations working together on a range of new defence technologies, including the rapid development of long-range strike weapons and advanced drones.
This includes efforts to develop precision strike systems with greater range and accuracy than existing weapons, such as the Storm Shadow missile.
Additionally, there will be increased cooperation in the development of maritime uncrewed air systems, as well as protecting critical underwater infrastructure in the North Sea, such as undersea cables vital for communications.
"The Trinity House Agreement is a milestone moment in our relationship with Germany and a major strengthening of Europe's security," said Defence Secretary John Healey.
"It secures unprecedented levels of new cooperation with the German Armed Forces and industry, bringing benefits to our shared security and prosperity, protecting our shared values and boosting our defence industrial bases."
As part of the deal, German P-8 surveillance aircraft will periodically operate from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland to help protect the North Atlantic.
The deal will not only focus on air and sea defence, but will also boost cooperation on land-based systems, including the ongoing production of Boxer armoured vehicles.
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