UK to deploy P8 Poseidon in Arctic

The Royal Air Force’s (RAF) P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will be deployed in the Arctic to counter Russian submarine activity, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on 18 February 2019.

As part of their first deployment, the UK’s new fleet of submarine hunting aircraft will fly over the Arctic in 2020. This deployment is part of the Defence Arctic Strategy, which will be published in spring 2019.

Nine P8 Poseidon aircraft will be delivered to the RAF Lossiemouth airfield in 2020 to be used for reconnaissance patrols over a wide range of area including the High North and North Atlantic.

Furthermore, as part of the Defence Arctic Strategy, the Royal Marines will also conduct a ten-year training programme with Norway, which will see around 1,000 Marines travelling north each year.

Gavin Williamson, UK Defence Secretary, said: ‘The Arctic Strategy puts us on the front foot in protecting Britain’s interests in this expanding new frontier. Whether it’s sharpening our skills in sub-zero conditions, learning from longstanding allies like Norway or monitoring submarine threats with our Poseidon aircraft, we will stay vigilant to new challenges.’