Russian spy ship fires lasers to blind RAF pilots

John Healey said that when jets were sent to track the Yantar, it fired beams of light at pilots flying RAF P-8 Poseidon submarine hunters.

Mr. Healey explained that the ship, believed to be part of the Kremlin's "shadow fleet," was tracked by the Royal Navy warship HMS Somerset off the coast of Scotland. The Ministry of Defense said the ship was monitored between November 5 and November 11.

This is the second time in a year that the Yantar has entered British waters. Defense chiefs believe the ship is using its sensors to spy on Britain.

The Yantar's use of lasers is being seen as a dramatic escalation, with Mr. Healey describing it as "extremely dangerous" during a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday.

Describing the incident, Mr. Healy said: "We deployed a Royal Navy frigate and RAF P-8 aircraft to monitor and track this ship's every movement, during which the Yantar fired lasers at our pilots."

"This action by Russia is extremely dangerous and is the second time this year that this ship, the Yantar, has been deployed in British waters." "My message to Russia and Putin is this: we are watching you, we know what you are doing, and if the Yantar moves south this week, we are ready."

The Yantar is currently off the edge of British waters north of Scotland, and "has entered British waters in the last few weeks," Mr. Healy added.

Mr. Healy also said that the Yantar is "part of a Russian fleet designed to threaten our maritime infrastructure and that of our allies."

He added: "This is not just a naval operation. It is part of a Russian program called the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research, or GUGI, and is designed with surveillance capabilities in peacetime and sabotage capabilities during conflict. So we are determined that whenever Yantar enters British waters, we will detect it, intercept it, and let Putin know we are ready, and we will do so in conjunction with allies."

"You saw last year how Britain, together with other Baltic and Nordic countries, responded to attacks on critical infrastructure, and then NATO also intervened in their operations.

"So, if you like, this is a demonstration of Britain's readiness to act and ability to act, because, undoubtedly, we will not tolerate any threat to the vital maritime links of the British people."

Mr. Healey announced that the government is investing in 13 new ammunition factories under a £1.5 billion deal. However, he also attacked the other parties' approach to defense.

He said: "In this Parliament, I want Britain to be the best place for investment and growth in the defense business.

"I want the British Armed Forces to be the fastest-innovating force in NATO. I want private investment to grow alongside British government investment."

Mr. Healey further stated that only the Labour Party believes in "the extraordinary strength of Great Britain."

"The Tories will cut defence again. The Greens want us out of NATO, the SNP rejects the glorious Scottish defence industry, and Nigel Farage is soft on Putin and weak on NATO, and cannot be trusted on matters of national security. Labour is the party of defence."