Operation Atlantic Bastion aims to secure the North Atlantic and North Sea for the UK and NATO.

The United Kingdom is working on a vast anti-submarine web that aims to cover large parts of the northern Atlantic Ocean and North Sea and help hunt down Russian submarines. 

The Royal Navy is looking to combine traditional anti-submarine methods, including surface combatants and aircraft, with innovative methods, such as unmanned systems and specialized sensors.

A Vast Anti-Submarine Web

On October 15, the British military issued a tender for unmanned and data-driven systems designed for anti-submarine warfare. The tender is the first step toward London’s plan of creating a vast anti-submarine web in the northern Atlantic Ocean and North Sea. The British military seeks to harness the power of artificial intelligence to accelerate detection and targeting, making the area impenetrable to Russian submarines.

London is particularly interested in blocking the key GIUK (Greenland-Iceland-UK) gap that allows ships to enter the Atlantic Ocean from the north.

In addition to unmanned surface and underwater systems and sensors, the Royal Navy will deploy a Type 26 anti‑submarine warfare frigate force in the region to conduct patrols.

The Russian Navy possesses a robust and large submarine fleet with approximately 64 subs, including strategic ballistic missile submarines, nuclear-powered attack submarines, and conventional diesel-electric attack submarines. 

The anti-submarine web is part of the Royal Navy’s larger Operation Atlantic Bastion.

First announced in June as part of the UK’s Strategic Defense Review, Operation Atlantic Bastion aims to secure the North Atlantic and North Sea for the UK and NATO. The growing capabilities of a modernized Russian submarine fleet prompted the Royal Navy to conceive Operation Atlantic Bastion.

“Atlantic Bastion uses a comprehensive and layered sensor network—operating on, above, and below the water—to create an integrated, multi-domain approach, delivered in collaboration with the RAF, Strategic Command, the UK Hydrographic Office, NATO, and commercial partners,” the British Ministry of Defence explained.

Not the First Time

This would not be the first time the Royal Navy has tried to prevent an adversary navy from operating freely in the northern Atlantic and North Sea.

Indeed, Operation Atlantic Bastion resembles the Royal Navy’s efforts to contain the German Navy during World War I and World War II. At the time, the UK possessed the most advanced and largest naval force in the world. In many ways, Britannia still ruled the waves. However, during both world wars, Germany possessed a highly capable naval fleet, though not large enough to directly challenge the Royal Navy. To prevent Germany’s fleet from attacking commercial ships, resupply ships, and troop transports, the Royal Navy began a large-scale blockade of Germany. The Royal Navy ran a wide blockade from Scotland to Norway and from Scotland to Iceland and Greenland. Although the blockade largely contained German capital warships, it was not as effective against submarines.

Now, under the mantle of Operation Atlantic Bastion, the Royal Navy is seeking to create a “blockade” against the Russian fleet and ensure that no submarines get through.

About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.  

Image: DVIDS

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