UK boosts naval defence with over $350 million deal to upgrade combat systems

The UK government has awarded a £285 million ($355.57 million) contract to BAE Systems (BAES.L), a company listed in London, to upgrade the Royal Navy’s combat systems, it was announced on January 28.

This follows a recent statement from the government regarding its monitoring of a Russian spy ship in the English Channel, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The UK pledged to enhance its efforts to counter covert operations by Russian vessels and aircraft, particularly to safeguard undersea cables.

The new contract aims to enhance the combat systems of the Royal Navy’s warships, improving their capabilities to detect, analyse, and respond to threats during combat, according to the January 28 announcement.

To recap, Britain has increased its vigilance over Russian vessels after tracking a spy ship in the English Channel. Defence Minister John Healey revealed that the Russian ship Yantar, known for mapping undersea infrastructure, entered British waters on January 20 and was monitored by the Royal Navy for two days before it sailed into Dutch waters.

Healey stressed that Britain would take strong measures to protect undersea cables, vital to telecommunications and energy supplies, from potential sabotage. He confirmed that Britain is enhancing its response to Russian operations near UK and NATO territory, including deploying maritime patrol aircraft and an advanced AI system to safeguard infrastructure.

The Yantar had previously been spotted near British cables in November. Healey confirmed the Royal Navy had changed its engagement rules to allow closer tracking and had even authorized the surfacing of a submarine as a deterrent.

By Aghakazim Guliyev