Royal Navy lacks resources to counter Russian threat in high north, MPs warn

The high north is the maritime area beyond Scotland, including seas connected to the Arctic. It matters because Russia is showing greater interest in the region, while global heating is opening Arctic seaways. This creates new military, commercial, and infrastructure concerns for Britain and its allies.

Russia is interested in energy pipelines and undersea cables in the region. It also wants control of the northern sea route along its Arctic coast. That route stretches 3,500 miles and was navigable for four and a half months last year. The navy has monitored Russian activity near UK waters, including the spy ship Yantar.

The UK’s ability to operate there is under pressure. MPs say shortages of available frigates, destroyers, and attack submarines could weaken deterrence. They want the Ministry of Defence to produce a plan that puts more warships and submarines to sea by 2030, before Russian activity and strategic competition intensify further.

The clearest stated naval shortfall concerns frigates. Britain has five frigates equipped with sonar to detect Russian submarines at distance. The navy’s stated requirement is eight, leaving a gap of three vessels. MPs said ageing ships had been scrapped before replacements entered service, and reaching the target could take until 2037.

Britain also has five Astute-class attack submarines. These submarines help track Russian maritime activity, but the article does not state how many the UK says it needs. Their paper total therefore does not show how many are actually ready for missions. All five were in dock from June into the summer, undergoing short-term or long-term refits.

The figures show both a fleet-size problem and an availability problem. The committee wants a Ministry of Defence plan to increase the number of warships and submarines at sea by 2030. Without that improvement, the UK may struggle to meet its high-north commitments.

These warships perform different but connected jobs. Sonar-equipped frigates search for submarines at distance, helping identify and follow underwater threats. Attack submarines track Russian maritime activity, while destroyers provide surface presence, protection, and rapid deployment. Their presence signals that Britain can monitor and challenge hostile activity.

The article gives a direct example. HMS St Albans, a frigate, tracked Russian submarines in the north Atlantic. The navy also shadowed the Russian spy ship Yantar inside UK economic waters. Britain accused its crew of mapping strategic cables, while lasers were allegedly shone at RAF pilots monitoring the vessel.

Availability determines whether these roles can be performed. Britain has five sonar frigates against a target of eight, and all five Astute submarines were in dock during the summer. MPs therefore questioned whether the UK can meet its commitments or deter future Russian aggression in the high north.

A navy’s inventory counts vessels it owns, not necessarily vessels ready for immediate operations. Submarines regularly enter dock for maintenance, repairs, upgrades, inspections, or longer refits. During that time, they cannot patrol, track vessels, or respond to a crisis at sea.

That distinction was stark in Britain’s case. The country has five Astute-class attack submarines, but the committee noted that none was at sea from June into the summer. All five were in dock for a mixture of short-term and long-term refits. The fleet therefore existed on paper while offering no available Astute submarine for operations during that period.

This creates a readiness problem as well as a numbers problem. Other vessels may have to cover the gap, or missions may be delayed. MPs want the Ministry of Defence to ensure that more submarines and warships are available at sea by 2030, rather than merely listed in the fleet.

A shortage of ready warships and submarines would reduce Britain’s ability to watch its waters and respond quickly. It could make it harder to protect territory, support a threatened NATO member, and maintain patrols around important undersea infrastructure. The committee warned that the UK might not meet its commitments in the high north.

The risks are visible in recent events. HMS Dragon took more than three weeks to reach Cyprus after an RAF base was hit by a drone because no warship was available. The navy also has only five sonar-equipped frigates, below its target of eight, while all five Astute submarines were in dock during the summer.

Such gaps could weaken deterrence and increase reliance on allies, especially the United States. MPs said critical military gaps would exist without US involvement. They want dramatic progress before 2030, although significant extra defence money is not expected until the next decade.

The issue is Britain’s limited ability to replace American military power during a crisis. The UK is described as the next largest NATO military in the region, but its available naval forces are already under pressure. If the United States did not help, Britain would need to cover more surveillance, deterrence, and response missions itself.

The committee linked this concern to a possible Russian attack or threat against a small NATO member. Britain might need to track Russian vessels, protect sea routes, support an ally, and deploy ships quickly. Yet five frigates are available against a target of eight, and all five Astute submarines were in dock during the summer.

MPs therefore said critical military gaps would exist without US involvement. Their warning was also a rare cross-party acknowledgment that American help cannot be assumed under Donald Trump. They argued Britain must prepare to increase its naval contribution before the end of the decade.

Undersea cables are communication links laid on the seabed, while pipelines transport energy beneath the sea. Modern economies depend on these hidden connections to move information and energy between countries. The article identifies both as strategically important infrastructure in the high north.

They are vulnerable because they run through exposed maritime spaces that ships and submarines can approach. The navy shadowed the Russian spy ship Yantar inside the UK’s economic waters. Britain accused sailors aboard it of trying to map strategic cables, and RAF pilots monitoring the ship were allegedly targeted with lasers. Russia also has growing interest in energy pipelines.

Protecting this infrastructure requires surveillance and available naval forces. Sonar-equipped frigates can search for submarines, while destroyers and attack submarines can monitor maritime activity. Britain’s shortages therefore matter beyond battlefield operations: fewer ready vessels could make it harder to detect or deter interference around cables and pipelines.