Atlantic Bastion: New undersea warfare technology to counter threat from Russia

The UK has unveiled a new advanced hybrid naval force, pairing together traditional crewed vessels with autonomous uncrewed systems, to protect undersea cables and pipelines from Russia.  

The programme comes after a resurgence in Russian submarine and underwater activity, as the Government said that there has been a 30% increase in Moscow's vessels threatening UK waters, including the Yantar, a vessel understood to be mapping undersea cables in conjunction with submarines. 

The majority of the work in Atlantic Bastion will be done by the incoming Type 26 frigates and the existing P-8 Poseidon aircraft, and Norway has signed up to assist in the world-leading programme. 

• UK and Norway to both operate advanced Type 26 frigates to counter Russian undersea threat
• Norwegian Type 26 purchase is a win for everyone – except Nato's adversaries
• Norway's Type 26 frigate deal could help ease Navy pressures, says former commodore

The UK and Norway, a country getting closer to the UK, recently signed the Lunna House Agreement, meaning that the two states will work side by side using an interchangeable fleet of British-built Type 26 frigates in the North Atlantic to counter Russian undersea threats. 

In our video above, BFBS Forces News takes an in-depth look at Atlantic Bastion and how it will combat the Russian threat.