RN shadows seven Russian warships off UK coast
The UK RN confirmed on 26 March that it has been shadowing seven Russian naval vessels in the English Channel and North Sea following ‘unusually high levels of activity’.
Tasked with tracking and monitoring the Russian fleet were the Type 23 frigates HMS Kent, HMS Sutherland, HMS Argyll and HMS Richmond. Additionally, OPVs HMS Tyne and HMS Mersey along with the Tide-class RFA Tideforce (pictured), RFA Tidespring and HMS Echo were sent to support the mission.
Two Fleet Air Arm squadrons (814 and 815 Naval Air Squadrons) also contributed Merlin and Wildcat naval helicopters.
The Russian vessels included three Steregushchiy-class corvettes, two Ropucha-class landing ships and two Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, supported by auxiliary ships and tugs.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Shoreline vulnerability drives Gulf interest in USV networks]()
Shoreline vulnerability drives Gulf interest in USV networks
Ukraine’s combat-proven Magura uncrewed surface vessel is attracting Gulf state interest as the Iran war exposes gaps in layered maritime air defence, raising questions about whether low-cost attritable systems can gain a foothold in a procurement culture historically drawn to high-end Western platforms.
-
![Sweden swayed by speed to capability in French frigate win]()
Sweden swayed by speed to capability in French frigate win
Naval Group has secured a contract to supply four Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention frigates to the Royal Swedish Navy, extending the French naval industry’s reach into Northern Europe and showing why speed to capability has become the defining criterion in today’s defence procurement contests.
-
![SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations]()
SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations
US Naval Special Warfare Command is assessing the feasibility of rapidly producing expendable mid-sized USVs in theatre to support SOF and maritime security missions.
-
![SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system]()
SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system
MARSOC is procuring the Shark Marine Dive Tablet 2 to address a longstanding combat diver navigation capability gap, improving underwater positioning, situational awareness and integration with existing diver propulsion vehicles.
