The Royal Air Force has scrambled specialist submarine hunting Poseidon planes are flying across the Norwegian Sea after Russian sub “threatened” a US aircraft carrier.
It has been revealed that since Sunday NATO warplanes are scouring the Norwegian Sea and Poseidon submarine hunters have made at least 27 sorties.
Norway’s Air Force has launched at least three sorties from Evenes Air Base close to Narvik, in the Arctic Circle and the RAF made eight P-8A Poseidon flights from RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland.
A defence source said the mission is a “highly unusual surge” and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that the operation is not an exercise.
A MoD spokesperson said, “The UK’s P-8 Poseidon aircraft work continuously on operations, protecting national interests and keeping the UK and our allies safe.
“For security reasons, we will not comment on operational details.
Former Royal Navy submarine commander Ryan Ramsay told MailOnline, “This is NATO showing they are in control.
“Either they have already found the submarine, or submarines, and they are holding it – or they haven’t got it yet and need to get hold of it.”
Former Navy commander Tom Sharpe added, “It looks like they have found a Russian submarine and they are hammering it. It is telling Russia: ‘We see you’.
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