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The Sun
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Russian warship lurking near Outer Hebrides spying on Britain's missile defences caught by Navy
A RUSSIAN warship was caught by the Navy spying on Britain's missile defences. It was found lurking near the Outer Hebrides during Nato live fire tests on shooting down a Russian-style missile. 4 4 4 The Yuri Ivanov, a so-called Russian research ship, was trying to watch the exercise, known as Formidable Shield. The drills involved HMS Dragon, one of the Navy's most powerful warships, firing a £1million Sea Viper missile at a target designed to simulate Moscow's formidable hypersonic weapons. The Navy hailed the test a 'huge moment' as the Sea Viper obliterated the incoming missile. Moments after the war games finished, HMS Dragon was ordered to hunt down Vladimir Putin's spy ship. The Navy said: 'HMS Dragon launched her Merlin helicopter to collect information until the Yuri Ivanov headed north towards its Arctic home.' Separately two Navy minehunters, HMS Ledbury and HMS Hurworth, were scrambled in the Channel to shadow Russian corvette Stoikiy. Lieutenant Commander James Bradshaw, captain of HMS Hurworth, said: 'This was all in a day's work for the ship's company.' 4
Metro
29-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Royal Navy scrambled to monitor Russian ship loitering in UK waters
A Russian intelligence gathering ship was caught loitering in waters off Scotland for the second time this month, sparking a major Royal Navy response. Warships and helicopters scrambled to monitor the Yuri Ivanov in the Outer Hebrides shortly after a major NATO exercise, Formidable Shield, wrapped up nearby. HMS Dragon, a Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer, watched on and launched Merlin helicopters to collect information from above, until the Yuri Ivanov headed north towards its home in the Arctic. Meanwhile, HMS Ledbury, HMS Hurworth and 814 Naval Air Squadron were activated to shadow RFN Stoikiy as the Russian warship sailed west through the Channel to meet two merchant vessels, Sparta IV and General Skobelev, which were returning from the Mediterranean. It comes shortly after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP to protect working people and deliver on promised plans. Lieutenant Commander Craig Clark, Commanding Officer of HMS Ledbury, said: 'Escorting Russian vessels through UK waters is a vital demonstration of our unwavering commitment to national security. 'Whilst the Hunt-class is uniquely equipped for mine and sea-bed warfare, maritime security remains a crucial task that any Royal Navy warship is trained to undertake.' Russian ships have veered a bit too close for comfort to UK borders as of late, and a second, more sinister fleet sparked warnings about a potential environmental disaster. Russia's 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers is designed to avoid sanctions and poses a serious threat to the UK and other international waters. Members of parliament previously wrote a letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy warning of the potentially catastrophic dangers from the 'ticking time-bomb' vessels. Labour's Uma Kumaran and Tim Roca have called for 'shadow-free' zones to be established in British waters to protect coastal communities and marine ecosystems. Mr Lammy issued a major sanctions package of the Russian shadow fleet late last year, but worried voices are still being raised in Westminster. These 'shadow' ships are often ageing vessels which have convoluted ownership, often in a bid to evade Western sanctions after Russia invaded Ukraine. More Trending Mr Roca said: 'With approximately 10 such tankers passing through the English Channel every day, the risk to our waters and coastal communities from these dangerous ships is immense. The UK should lead the way in enforcing maritime safety and environmental protection.' An investigation by the Kyiv School of Economics Institute (KSE) found Russia built its shadow fleet and found it bought older vessels for a cheaper price, largely ignoring maritime safety laws. 'The weak link in the regulatory framework, together with the dramatically expanded role of shadow tankers in the Russian oil trade means that a major environmental disaster is only a question of time.' Several close calls with these ageing ships have been reported in recent years, including one collision in Denmark last March. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Map shows average savings in different UK regions — how does yours compare? MORE: UK to train hackers to get revenge on Putin's cyber attacks MORE: Leader who killed 6,000,000 of his own honoured in new statue
Scottish Sun
29-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Russian spy vessel spotted off coast of Scotland as Royal Navy deploys warships
SEA ALERT Russian spy vessel spotted off coast of Scotland as Royal Navy deploys warships Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ROYAL Navy warships and helicopters were deployed after a Russian ship was spotted in Scottish waters. It's believed the Russian intelligence gathering vessel was detected as it loitered in waters near the Outer Hebrides. The Navy sent the HMS Dragon destroyer ship to monitor the suspicious vessel which appeared following the completion of major NATO exercise Formidable Shield which took place nearby. HMS Dragon, a Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer, launched its Merlin helicopter which gathered information on Russia's Yuri Ivanov ship from above before it headed towards its home in the Arctic. Lieutenant Commander James Bradshaw, Commanding Officer of Hunt-class minehunter HMS Hurworth said: "Monitoring activity on the seas and seabed around the UK is one of the core roles of the Royal Navy's 2nd Mine-Countermeasures Squadron. "This operation was all in a day's work for the ship's company who have shown great professionalism. "We have kept a constant watch to ensure the security and integrity of the UK's critical sea lanes." More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun. is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun.
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Navy launches 5-day op as 'intelligence gathering' Putin ship seen in UK waters
Royal Navy warships and helicopters have been launched for the second time this month after an 'intelligence gathering' Russian ship was spotted in UK waters. HMS Dragon monitored Russian intelligence gathering ship Yuri Ivanov as it loitered in waters off the Outer Hebrides following the completion of major NATO exercise Formidable Shield that took place nearby. A five-day operation which began on May 18 tracked Russian vessels and escorted them through the UK's sea-lanes, the Royal Navy said. It followed the activation of HMS Tyne three weeks ago. Warships and helicopters were activated in a bid to 'ensure the security and integrity of the UK's critical sea-lanes', Lieutenant Commander James Bradshaw said. HMS Dragon, a destroyer based in Portsmouth, launched a Merlin helicopter to collect aerial information until the Yuri Ivanov headed north towards its base in the Arctic. Three Russian vessels, two cargo boats and a warship, RFN Stoikiy, were shadowed by HMS Ledbury, HMS Hurworth and 814 Naval Air Squadron, the Royal Navy added.
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Record
Warship obliterates supersonic missile in Royal Navy test off Scots coast
In a burst of fire and smoke, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon launched a specially-modified Sea Viper missile at an incoming high-speed target. One of the UK's most advanced warships has obliterated a supersonic missile in a historic first for the Royal Navy in a test off the coast of Scotland. In a burst of fire and smoke, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon launched a specially-modified Sea Viper missile at an incoming high-speed target which was emulating the kind of advanced threats seen around the globe today. It marks the first time the Royal Navy has faced down this kind of target - one that is significantly more challenging as it flies faster and carries out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres. The Sea Viper launched was a special telemetry version, designed to record measurements and valuable data to inform future operations. The missile firing took place as part of the largest live-firing exercise in Europe this year - known as Exercise Formidable Shield 25 - which is proving the Portsmouth-based ship's ability to defend herself and other ships around her from attack, including from swarms of drones. "The successful Sea Viper firing as part of Formidable Shield 25 is a huge moment for HMS Dragon," Commander Iain Giffin, HMS Dragon's Commanding Officer, said. "Not only does it prove that Dragon's world leading air defence capability functions as it should following an extensive maintenance period, but it also proves our ability to integrate and operate alongside NATO allies and partners. "Training alongside ships, aircraft and land forces from 11 nations in this complex, multi-domain exercise ensures that we maintain our fighting edge against evolving Hi and Low-tech threats." Just two and a half seconds after erupting from HMS Dragon's silo, the missile accelerated to more than four times the speed of sound - otherwise known as Mach 4. High above the water, it then manoeuvred at G-forces which no human being could withstand, to close in and destroy the target. Sea Viper is the combination of the Sampson radar system - the distinctive spinning spiked ball on top of a Type 45 destroyer's main mast - and the Aster missile system which sits in a silo on the ship's forecastle. The system tracks aircraft and other objects across thousands of cubic miles of airspace over the Hebrides range in western Scotland, identifies threats, and destroys them when necessary. "Seeing how far Dragon has progressed, both within the Warfare Department as well as the wider ship, is impressive," Lieutenant Commander Sarah Kaese, Dragon's Senior Warfare Officer - who is on exchange from the Royal Australian Navy. "Formidable Shield has been both a significant challenge and opportunity for Dragon to come together as a warfighting unit and integrate into a task group developing air defence capability." Formidable Shield sees naval forces battle against uncrewed air and surface systems, subsonic, supersonic and ballistic targets, bringing together allied ships and land-based air defences and air forces - all working together to prove themselves a credible combined combat power. Almost every participant is due to launch missiles over the course of the month-long workout. The first phase of the exercise - which involves nearly 7,000 personnel - took place at the And ya firing range in Norway, before moving on to the Hebrides range. Formidable Shield ends on 31 May. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
