Russian spy submarines are deploying to the GIUK Gap |
The
GIUK gap, an area in the North Atlantic from Greenland to the United Kingdom,
has regained strategic importance for the United States and its allies due to
recent Russian navy activities. The Russian navy has deployed nuclear-powered
submarines in the waters off Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom,
raising concerns about their intentions and capabilities. The Russian navy
operates several types of submarines, including nuclear-powered ballistic
missile submarines, nuclear-powered attack submarines, and diesel-electric
submarines.
These subs pose a threat to the security
of the North Atlantic and the NATO alliance, as they are equipped with advanced
technology, which allows them to gather intelligence and engage in a variety of
missions. One of the submarines detected is the Project 885 Yasen-class
submarine, introduced in 2014, designed for anti-submarine warfare,
intelligence gathering, and attack operations against ships and other
submarines. Equipped with advanced sensors and weapons systems, including
torpedoes and cruise missiles, the Yasen-class is a formidable presence in the
North Atlantic.
Another submarine detected in the GIUK gap
is the Project 955 Borei-class submarine, a nuclear-powered ballistic missile
submarine introduced in 2008. It carries nuclear missiles and remains submerged
for extended periods, equipped with advanced technology to detect and avoid
detection.
Also detected in the area is the Kilo-class
diesel-electric submarine. It is designed for anti-submarine warfare and
shallow water operations. The Kilo-class is known for its quiet propulsion
systems, making it difficult to detect, and it is armed with torpedoes and
anti-ship missiles.
Aside from these submarines, Russia has
also been testing new unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) in the region. These
UUVs are designed to gather intelligence and track foreign submarines.
The
deployment of the P-8 Poseidon aircraft and the refurbishment of the Naval Air
Station Keflavik are critical steps taken by the U.S. and its allies to monitor
and track Russian submarines in the North Atlantic.
The P-8 Poseidon aircraft is a
state-of-the-art maritime patrol aircraft used by the U.S. Navy to detect and
track submarines. Equipped with advanced sensors and communications equipment,
the P-8 Poseidon will detect and track these Russian submarines from great
distances, making it a valuable asset in the fight against Russian submarines
in the GIUK gap.
The P-8 Poseidon is equipped with an
advanced acoustic system that can detect submarines at long ranges. It also carries
other sensors, including radar, electronic support measures, and
electro-optical and infrared cameras, which can be used to detect and track both
surface ships and submarines.
The P-8 Poseidon flies for extended
periods, allowing it to cover large areas of the North Atlantic and stay on
station for long periods to monitor and track the Russian submarines. It also can
also deploy weapons such as torpedoes and missiles, making it a formidable weapon
against these lurking Russian subs, if it becomes necessary.
In addition to its advanced sensor systems
and weapons, the P-8 Poseidon is also highly maneuverable and can fly at high
speeds, making it difficult for Russian submarines to evade detection. It also
can fly low and slow, allowing it to operate in areas where other aircraft
cannot.
The refurbishment of the Naval Air Station
Keflavik is another critical step in the effort to protect against Russian
submarines in the North Atlantic. It was closed in 2006 but is now reopened and
upgraded to support the deployment of P-8 Poseidon aircraft. The base provides
a strategic location for monitoring and tracking the Russian subs.
Overall, the P-8 Poseidon and the Naval
Air Station Keflavik are critical components in the United States' efforts to
protect against Russian submarines in the GIUK gap. It sends a message to Moscow
that the U.S. is committed to maintaining security and stability in the North
Atlantic and that its aggressive activities in the region will not be
tolerated.
Interestingly, in the MISSION
OF VENGEANCE spy thriller, the Russian spy submarine Yantar was a cause
of concern for CIA spymaster Corey Pearson. It showed up unexpectedly off the
Dominican Republic in the Caribbean after it had docked in Havana, Cuba. In the
spy thriller, Pearson determined that Russian President Putin had ordered the
submarine to exfiltrate a former KGB agent named Markov and his Spetsnaz assassins
back to Russia. They had murdered an innocent American family at a tourist
resort in the Dominican Republic. Russian
spy submarines, such as the Yantar, for the backdrop for the MISSION
OF VENGEANCE spy thriller, where the stakes are high, and the tension
is palpable.
But in the nonfiction, real world, Russia’s
deployment of these sophisticated subs in the GIUK area is significant, given
that the GIUK gap is the shortest distance between Russia and North America,
making it a potential target for a surprise attack. The region is also critical
for the transit of goods, including oil, between North America and Europe. Any
attack on merchant ships passing through this region by Russian submarines
could cause severe disruptions to the global economy and create a humanitarian
crisis.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union used
the GIUK gap to access the Atlantic Ocean from its base in the Arctic. It was a
critical area for both the Soviet Union and Western countries, including the
United States, which used it as a primary route for its nuclear-armed
submarines. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the GIUK gap became less of a
concern, and the U.S. withdrew its forces from the region. Well, we’re back.
The deployment of Project 885 Yasen-class
submarines, Project 955 Borei-class submarines, and Kilo-class diesel-electric
submarines, along with testing of new UUVs, demonstrates Russia's intent to
increase its presence in the North Atlantic. These submarines are equipped with
advanced technology and weaponry, making them a formidable force in the region.
The GIUK gap may have lost strategic
importance after the fall of the Berlin Wall, but recent Russian navy
activities have restored its significance. Tensions are rising in the North
Atlantic. The deployment of Russian submarines in the GIUK gap has become a
significant concern for the United States and its allies. With advanced
technology and capabilities, including nuclear weapons, these submarines pose a
threat to the security and stability of the region.
The U.S. response, including the
deployment of P-8 Poseidon aircraft and the refurbishment of Naval Air Station
Keflavik, sends a clear message to Moscow that their aggressive activities in
the North Atlantic will not be tolerated. But as demonstrated in the MISSION
OF VENGEANCE spy thriller, the stakes are high, and the tension is
palpable. The ominous question remains: Will history repeat itself, and will
the GIUK gap become the site of another deadly conflict?
Robert
Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO)
and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster
series. Check out his latest spy thrillers: MISSION
OF VENGEANCE.
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