Two Russian Spy Ships Operating Near Important Military Base In Scotland - Naval News

The Russian Navy has a sizable fleet of dedicated intelligence gathering ships. Festooned with antenna, their crews listen in to other country’s communications, and analyze radar and other military transmissions. So NATO countries are naturally uncomfortable when one takes up position close to their ports and bases.

Now two Russian Navy intelligence gathering ships have taken up position off the British coast. They are in the Moray of Firth, north of Aberdeen, and just miles from the important air base at RAF Lossiemouth. The ships were visible on commercial satellite imagery on November 6.

They are on the opposite coast to where a wrecked Wave Glider uncrewed surface vessel (USV) was discovered in early October. Although there has been speculation that the unclaimed craft was a Russian intelligence gathering craft, we are confident that this isn’t the case. The Russian intelligence ships are therefore unrelated. It is however a reminder that the intelligence game is still being played around the British Isles and in the North Atlantic.