Lyce · Hybrid Watch
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Suspected Russian submarine activity triggers multinational search off Ireland’s west coast.
During late May 2024, French, British and Norwegian military aircraft conducted a coordinated search for a suspected Russian submarine operating off Ireland’s western coast. According to maritime reporting, a French Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft operated near County Clare, while British and Norwegian P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft searched waters off Sligo and Donegal. The operation took place amid increasing European concerns about Russian underwater reconnaissance near strategically important transatlantic telecommunications cables. Ireland’s western maritime approaches contain infrastructure connecting European and North American communications networks. The search demonstrated multinational surveillance efforts in response to suspected Russian submarine activity, although the submarine’s identity, exact position and mission were not publicly disclosed. Subsequent reporting described two Russian Kilo-class submarine deployments near the Irish Sea since 2022, but did not establish that the May search corresponded to either deployment.
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During late May 2024, French, British and Norwegian military aircraft conducted a coordinated search for a suspected Russian submarine operating off Ireland’s western coast. According to maritime reporting, a French Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft operated near County Clare, while British and Norwegian P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft searched waters off Sligo and Donegal. The operation took place amid increasing European concerns about Russian underwater reconnaissance near strategically important transatlantic telecommunications cables. Ireland’s western maritime approaches contain infrastructure connecting European and North American communications networks. The search demonstrated multinational surveillance efforts in response to suspected Russian submarine activity, although the submarine’s identity, exact position and mission were not publicly disclosed. Subsequent reporting described two Russian Kilo-class submarine deployments near the Irish Sea since 2022, but did not establish that the May search corresponded to either deployment.