UK admiral warns of rising Russian submarine threat

The head of the British Royal Navy, First Sea Lord General Gwyn Jenkins, has issued a stark warning that British and allied forces could soon lose their long-held strategic advantage in the Atlantic, citing the significant strengthening of Russian naval capabilities and ongoing investments in further expansion.

“The advantage that we have enjoyed in the Atlantic since the end of the Second World War is at risk. We are holding on, but not by much. Our would-be opponents are investing billions. We have to step up, or we will lose that advantage,” Jenkins said, Military Watch Magazine reports.

Russia remains the only country outside the Western sphere to maintain a meaningful naval presence in the Atlantic, and Jenkins highlighted Moscow as the primary focus of concern. He reported a “30% increase in Russian incursion in our waters” over the past two years and announced plans to develop advanced detection capabilities against adversary submarines, with contracts scheduled for next year.

Newly appointed in May 2025, Jenkins issued his warnings amid growing concerns over the sharp decline in British Armed Forces’ capabilities—not only at sea, but also on land and in the air—while Russia’s nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet continues to expand. Although the Russian Navy lacks bases in the Atlantic, its Northern Fleet in the Arctic can access the Atlantic through multiple routes.

Of particular concern are the Yasen-M class nuclear attack submarines. Dubbed the world’s “deadliest submarine ever” by the National Interest when the first ship launched in December 2019, these vessels are equipped with 32 vertical launch cells for cruise missiles, ten torpedo tubes, an Igla-M short-range air defence system, and are prioritized to receive the hypersonic Zircon cruise missile. First launched from a Yasen-class vessel in October 2021, the Zircon travels at Mach 9 with a 1,000-kilometre range, enabling it to strike enemy warships, including aircraft carriers, with minimal warning. President Vladimir Putin has confirmed continued serial production, emphasizing the class as the backbone of Russia’s general-purpose naval forces.

While Russia’s surface fleet has declined since the Soviet era, its attack submarine fleet remains world-leading. By contrast, the British nuclear submarine program faces serious challenges. Former Ministry of Defence nuclear policy director Rear Admiral Philip Mathias described the program as effectively unmanageable, citing “shockingly low” fleet availability rates, mismanagement of key personnel, and “catastrophic failure of succession and leadership planning.”

The Royal Navy’s surface fleet faces even greater reliability and cost-efficiency issues, raising doubts about whether increased funding alone can resolve these structural deficiencies.

By Vafa Guliyeva