'Fire hoses' are Britain's nuclear submarine's only defence against drone attacks, reports say
While drone attacks are becoming a major threat in armed conflicts, Britain's nuclear submarines are revealed to use "fire hoses" to defend themselves against air attacks, reports say.
According to UK tabloid The Sun, the sailors of Britain's Royal Navy nuclear submarines are reportedly being trained to defend their fleet from drone attacks by using fire hoses. Despite the £6.5 billion Vanguard-class subs being equipped with nuclear ballistic missiles, they employ high-pressure water jets as their primary defense against aerial threats.
These water jets are situated on the submarine decks as a defensive measure when the vessels are docked. The Royal Navy reports that these hoses, along with other layers of defense such as physical barriers, patrols, surveillance, and monitoring, are their main lines of defense against drone attacks.
The water hoses are controlled by sailors standing on the deck and directed towards drones that evade land-based defenses. They are specifically designed to counter small and medium-range FPV drones, while larger Iranian Shaheds or Russian Gerbera drones would be intercepted by Royal Air Force fighter jets. One Navy source told The Sun that they initially thought the hoses were intended for small, civilian drones, but the threats have evolved significantly.
Faslane base, situated northwest of Glasgow in Scotland, is one of the UK's most sensitive military sites, housing the nuclear submarine fleet. While the bay provides some natural protection against naval attacks, the base could be particularly vulnerable to drone attacks due to its exposed location. The topography of Gare Loch, with its plentiful public roads and people roaming the hills, makes it susceptible to drone attacks if multiple drones are launched nearby.
Charlie Williams, a researcher and defence analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), commented on The Sun's report, noting that Faslane's strategic importance to hostile states has been recognized. Williams expressed surprise at the Royal Navy's reliance on fire hoses to protect the submarines and called for the Ministry of Defence to invest in more effective defense capabilities.
He pointed to Russia's history of flying numerous drones over European nuclear sites, including France's Île Longue nuclear submarine base and Royal Air Force Lakenheath in Suffolk.
The UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson assured that the protection of military sites is constantly reviewed, and through the Defence Investment Plan, an additional £470 million (€554 million) will be allocated over the next four years to enhance the security of UK military installations.
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