Overview

• Between July 1 and 8, Royal Navy frigate HMS Iron Duke, patrol ship HMS Tyne and Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron carried out three surveillance missions in the North Sea and English Channel.
• The tracked vessels comprised two Steregushchiy-class corvettes, a tanker, a bulk carrier and a Smolnyy-class training ship transiting UK territorial waters.
• The operations ran parallel to NATO’s Exercise Sea Breeze in Portland, reflecting multinational support for Ukraine’s security and Black Sea stability.
• These activities underscore the Royal Navy’s effort to deter Russian grey-zone tactics and protect UK maritime sovereignty and undersea infrastructure.
• Commander David Armstrong said the missions highlight the Royal Navy’s interoperability with NATO allies and commitment to defending critical national infrastructure.