The UK is launching eight submarine hunting aircraft over the Arctic in a bid to detect and track Russian activity under the water. The P-8 Poseidons are armed with torpedos as well as specialist radar and acoustic sensor equipment.
The latest modified Boeing 737 was delivered to the RA at the end of January, and they will now be deployed to the north of the UK. Information gathered by the flights will be passed to NATO warships in the region.
The move is part of a new Arctic Strategy and was published during Defence Secretary Ben Wallace's trip to Norway. Mr Wallace visited the country to watch Exercise Cold Response, a military exercise involving 30,000 NATO troops - the biggest cold-weather exercise in three decades, reports The Express.
The strategy says Russia sees the Arctic as strategically important but has become concerned about the melting of ice caps exposing its fleets. The report notes that the country now conducts as many submarine patrols as the Soviet Union in the Cold War.
Since 2016, Russia has also reopened two Arctic naval bases, Franz Josef Land and Kotelny Island. The strategy said: "While this activity is not in and of itself a breach of international law, it presents challenges which impact upon the interests of the UK, our Allies and partners, and the inhabitants of the Arctic, and to which we must be vigilant and prepared to respond".
A defence source told the Telegraph that the militarization of the Arctic was led by Russia, claiming that the UK and NATO intervened to maintain international law. Russia launched its own Arctic Strategy in 2008.
The Arctic Strategy also outlined plans for "cold weather warfare training" in countries such as Norway and the United States. It said: "In addition to cold weather warfare training in Norway, the UK will seek to take advantage of further invitations and conduct cold-weather training in Canada, Finland and the United States on a regular basis.
"In support of these capabilities, UK Defence will examine options to bolster its cold-weather capability to ensure that Arctic-appropriate equipment, activity, environmental support and infrastructure are all developed and maintained."
In a statement, Ben Wallace also noted the increasing military capabilities of China in the Arctic. He said: "Melting sea ice in the Arctic brings both opportunities and threats, with Russia taking an increasingly militarized approach to the region and China supporting its proposed Polar Silk Road with a range of infrastructure and capabilities with dual-use potential.
"As the region becomes increasingly accessible, threats from elsewhere around the globe could spill over into the Arctic."
