The UK’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has highlighted key contributions made by different types of UK Royal Navy (RN) assets to stability and security around the world.
These contributions range from the UK’s submarine-based strategic nuclear weapons system providing Euro-Atlantic deterrence and reassurance at the highest end, to offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) providing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific at the opposite, lower end of the operational spectrum, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin told the Royal United Services Institute’s (RUSI’s) annual CDS lecture on 4 December.
As regards the strategic impact of the RN’s Vanguard-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and the capability these boats deliver, through a continuous at-sea deterrent (CASD) operational cycle, in the context of deterring Russian threats to Euro-Atlantic security in and around its war in Ukraine Adm Radakin said “The UK’s nuclear deterrent is the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on [president Vladimir] Putin than anything else.”
While the RN’s SSBNs provide the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent, the navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers contribute a core component of the country’s conventional strategic deterrent capability, too. Here, Adm Radakin pointed out, in recent months both carriers have been at sea, with one leading NATO forces in the North Atlantic. That ship, HMS Prince of Wales, and its carrier strike group (CSG) worked with the US Navy’s USS Harry S Truman CSG and Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) on exercises ‘Strike Warrior’ and ‘Neptune Strike’ in the North Sea.
In the Middle East region, to counter the threat posed by Ansar Allah (Houthi) rebels to global maritime trade in the Gulf of Aden/Bab-al-Mandeb/Red Sea corridor, Adm Radakin highlighted the role of “RN destroyers shooting down missiles and drones in the Red Sea”. Several RN ships – including the Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond and the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond – have participated in the international campaign to secure shipping sailing through the region.
In the Indo-Pacific region, two Batch Two River-class OPVs – HM Ships Spey and Tamar – have contributed maritime presence across the region within wider deployment of UK defence assets. “The current UK laydown in the Indo-Pacific represents less than 5% of our total force structure, but it provides a foundational presence for strategic relationships,” said Adm Radakin. Such relationships include the AUKUS (Australia/UK/US) partnership on developing submarines and other defence technologies and the GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme) partnership, under which the UK, Japan, and Italy are developing next-generation fighter aircraft.
Alongside the RN’s nuclear and conventional deterrent presence roles, Adm Radakin also noted threats to UK energy and digital infrastructure, much of which is seabed-based and will require the RN and other maritime stakeholders to build further conventional deterrent presence at sea to counter this ‘grey zone’ threat.
by Dr. Lee Willett
