Super Aviator sub: Transparent concept car lets you set up office anywhere

 

 

 

 

 

Who hasn’t stuck their hand out the window of a fast-moving car, angled their flat palm and formed fingers up and down, and marveled at the unexpected force of the air-stream? DEEPFLIGHT MERLIN DeepFlight Merlin is a three passenger open-cockpit submersible built custom for Sir Richard Branson.  Dubbed “Necker Nymph” and operated from Branson’s yacht “Necker Belle”, the Merlin is quick and agile due to its light weight, but limited in depth to that of standard SCUBA regulations. This simple deflection plane is the basic principle behind the control surfaces or ‘airfoils’ of conventional aircraft and, with a much different degree of density and viscosity, those of military submarines. DEEPFLIGHT CHALLENGER DeepFlight Challenger was built as an experimental prototype to enable adventurer, Steve Fossett, to set the ultimate solo dive record, 37,000 feet to the bottom of the Marianas Trench. Unfortunately Fossett perished in a plane crash before he could dive the submersible to record depth.  DeepFlight developed many key technologies during the Challenger project, including the use of composites in deep water pressure vessels.  The Challenger is now owned and managed by Chris Welsh as part of Virgin Oceanic. Remember, though, that water is some seven hundred times denser than air. Stick your arm and hand out the ‘window’ of an underwater vehicle moving 50 miles per hour and you may well lose the whole grasping assembly! DEEPFLIGHT AVIATOR DeepFlight Aviator, built just after DeepFlight 1, made significant advances in underwater flight from its predecessor.  With its twin cockpit configuration and upright seating, the DeepFlight Aviator was a true underwater flying machine.  Decommissioned in 2005, the technology developed during the Aviator project had a heavy influence on later vehicles, namely the DeepFlight Challenger and DeepFlight’s first commercially available vehicle, Super Falcon Mark 1. The thought of ‘flying’ underwater, just as an aircraft climbs, banks and dives across the sky, is far from a new idea. In fact, the number of patents granted on submarines with full wings and vertical rudders, in the U.S. alone, is quite amazing. D.V. Reid’s 1963 ‘Flying Submarine’ is typical. Thomas Rowe’s DEEPFLIGHT I Launched in 1995, DeepFlight I (DF I) represented a radical new design approach for underwater vehicles.  Instead of using a traditional ballast system to control dive and ascent, DF I used inverted wings to provide “negative” lift that pulls the sub down. This downward force negates the slightly buoyant characteristics of the sub and allows it to dive.   While traditional ballast systems emulate airships and balloons, this principle, along with DF I’s small size, allows the pilot to descend at a very fast rate to maximize bottom time.  DF I represents a “proof of concept” and is a technology bridge to all later generations of DeepFlight craft. ‘Submarine Hydrofoil’ of 1993 claims a submarine vehicle with wings and rudder “either manually or computer controlled by way of hand-held joysticks and foot-rudders”. Well, 1993 is relatively recent; how about Joseph Hardo’s ‘Submarine Flying Boat’ of 1922, or Longobardi’s 1918 submarine-cum-aircraft described elegantly as a “Combination Vehicle”? There are dozens and dozens of these patented designs for ‘flying’ submersibles – some are quite clever and some are not. Reportedly, a few prototypes were built and flown with varying degrees of success. The current batch of ‘underwater aircraft’ has been championed largely by an ex-pat British engineer named Graham Hawkes. He designed several vehicles of this type and has built at least three different prototype versions. The ‘Super Aviator’ trainer used during the Lake Tahoe diving sessions described in the accompanying articles is one such design. Hawkes’ version of a flying submarine is positively buoyant and relies on a constant amount of down-angle on its control surfaces to stay submerged. If the thrusters stop for any reason, the sub immediately begins to rise to the surface. Conventional submersibles have variable ballast systems and vertical/lateral thrusters that give the pilot the ability to make the sub heavier or lighter in the water – to stop, hover, or sit on the bottom – and to maneuver laterally. The sub then can do a close visual inspection, acquire hi-def video or still images, or operate manipulators to, say, transfer the gold coins from a wrecked Spanish galleon to the subs specimen basket! The Hawkes subs were built primarily to allow the users to experience the sensation of underwater acrobatics and these subs closely emulate an aircraft in the requirement for continuous forward motion. If an airplane ‘stops’ in mid-air, it falls quickly to the ground. If a positively buoyant sub stops moving, it ‘falls’ to the surface – post haste! The owners of Sub Aviator Systems Inc. used the positively buoyant ‘Aviator’ and loved the feel of ‘flying’, although Director John Jo Lewis says, “It’s more like a cross between the sensation of riding a high-performance motorcycle and piloting a light aircraft.” But they also wanted to be able to stop and ‘smell the roses’ (or, perhaps,  ‘grab the doubloons’!) Accordingly, ‘Aviator’ was heavily modified into ‘Super Aviator’ – a hybrid version that can fly, as it had previously, but now contains the stop and hover capabilities common to virtually all modern submersibles. Other additions included a drop-weight system for emergency ascent, and a full ‘self-rescue’ system. The modifications worked so well, that it was decided to commission the development of a new model of a multi-purpose flying submarine. The new design was called ‘Orcasub’ – after the powerful sea-mammals that frequent the coast off the state of Washington where Sub Aviator Systems Inc. is based. Sub Aviator Systems partnered with commercial submersible builders Nuytco Research Ltd., and the final Orcasub design used Nuytco’s well-known and Lloyds certified ‘Deep Worker’ components (pressure hulls, battery pods, etc.) which also serve to increase the depth rating to 2,000 feet (610m) in combination with the wings and rudders of a flying submarine. Super Aviator was retained as an in-house, shallow-water trainer – for demonstrations and for instructing new pilots in the principles of underwater flight. The original ‘Aviator’ prototype was not classed by a marine certification agency such as Lloyds Surveyors, American Bureau of Shipping, or Det Norske Veritas. The new Orcasub was specifically designed to meet all class requirements and to be certified to the same standards as commercially operated submersibles. As you can see by some of the patent drawings illustrated, flying submarines are not new – but, certainly, Graham Hawkes deserves full credit for re-awakening interest in this type of machine over the past decade, or so. Orcasub may be the most recent of that small crop but, undoubtedly, won’t the last. So . . . if you have room on your yacht, or have recently inherited a map showing the location of a sunken Spanish galleon, or just want to fly in the ‘skies’ of the ocean, check out Sub Aviators website at www.SubAviators.com (P.S. Should you be successful with the map and feel like sending me a doubloon, or two, for putting you on to this – it would be an absolutely lovely gesture and most gratefully received!)   She glides silently through the cobalt water, banking gently to the left so smoothly the movement is barely discernible. Seconds later, with pinpoint precision, we swoop down to chase a school of fish confused at the sight of this strange new creature of the deep. My cockpit headset crackles into life: 'Now, brace yourself for the porpoise,' says Captain Alfred McLaren, the excitement palpable in his voice. As the joystick is thrust backwards sharply, the world's first underwater 'flying' machine shoots upwards, breaching the water surface nose-first, before splashing back down and descending once more to the depths. The Super Aviator, a revolutionary submersible, could be considered the ultimate boy's toy. Sleek and oozing more sex appeal than your average fighter jet, the 22ft long futuristic sub has already seduced billionaires such as Roman Abramovich and Richard Branson. They've both made enquiries about buying one of the £1.5 million machines. But this is far more than a rich man's plaything, says senior pilot McLaren, a former U.S. Navy nuclear attack submarine commander. 'This is to underwater exploration what the first Wright Brothers plane was to commercial flight.' McLaren, who along with partners John Jo Lewis, Jay Wade and Canadian Dr Phil Nuytten are directors of Sub Aviator Systems (SAS), the company behind the Super Aviator, says the possibilities for underwater exploration in the sub are endless.  [caption] 'This submersible represents a revolution in underwater adventure and exploration. Most subs go up and down using a ballast system, similar to a hot-air balloon. They have limited manoeuvrability and range. Then you have unmanned subs, but they are normally tethered to a mother ship. 'This craft offers a freedom of movement never seen before. It's built along the principles of flight, with thrust, lift and drag allowing you to "fly" beneath the waves. It has wings and a joystick to bank like an aeroplane and it can turn and curve at will. Plus the visibility is much better than with scuba diving. You're not loaded down with heavy gear and you don't have to exert yourself physically in the way you do on a dive. Our sub has the ability to cover large areas for hours at a time without fatigue or decompression worries. 'We envision that scientists will be able to use it to study parts of the ocean and delicate reef formations that have so far been inaccessible. And because it is so quiet, you can eyeball fish and other underwater creatures without scaring them off. You really do get a truly unique viewpoint.' The submersible can dive to a depth of over 1,000ft at a top speed of six knots and is intended to explore the limits of the continental shelves where marine archaeologists would initially look for ancient ship wrecks. Pilots are encased in one of two 'pods', or cockpits, pressurised spaces topped with thick Perspex domes allowing you a 360-degree view underwater. The Super Aviator is capable of maintaining a state of positive or neutral buoyancy, which makes it easier to control and allows it to 'hover' if the pilot wants to stop and savour the view or carry out work tasks. The vehicle itself is battery-powered, making it environmentally friendly and virtually silent.  Watch the incredible Super Aviator sub in action below... [caption] When I see the machine for the first time by the banks of Lake Tahoe, it's clear this revolutionary craft is something special. Within moments of it being wheeled out from its 'hangar' (in reality, a large motorised trailer), a curious crowd has gathered. I am here to take part in the world's first underwater pilot training school, a £5,000, three-day event that has attracted some legendary names from the field of exploration, including oceanographer Dr Don Walsh (the first man to go down to the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench, in the bathyscaphe Trieste in 1960) and former Apollo 8 astronaut, retired Air Force Major General William Anders. Another student, former French Navy captain Paul-Henri Nargeolet, has dived to the wreck of the Titanic more than anyone else - a total of 120 times. If you fancy becoming a fully qualified pilot, that will cost you £10,000. But for SAS's John Jo Lewis, the three-day course is strictly business. A real-estate entrepreneur, he has sunk several hundred thousand dollars of his own money into the sub (he refuses to say precisely how much but admits that my estimate of $1 million 'isn't too far off').    The cockpit is similar to that of a typical aircraft. There is a joystick, rudder pedals, compass and altitude indicator. The 'flight' controls match a standard military aircraft layout with a thrust lever, directional thrust and power sequencer. The only differences are the depth gauge, levers that control emergency air bags and a drop weight that would aid the sub to get to the surface safely in the event of a catastrophic underwater failure. With McLaren in the forward pod, I carefully climb into the rear cockpit. It takes a minimum of an hour of instruction before you can safely leave terra firma. First you are strapped in, using a five-point harness, then the crew chief talks you through the practicalities of the sub, focusing on safety procedures. There is a lot of information to take in - oxygen regulators, the CO2 scrubber, pressure equalisation valve, throttle control, joystick, rudders, console, underwater communications equipment... You are taught to read the interior percentage of oxygen and the atmospheric pressure in the pod, and much more besides. 'This isn't a joyride,' says McClaren. 'The submersible is safe but it is essential that you monitor conditions in your own pod and know exactly how to use the safety equipment just in case something happens to me when we are out there. There are no passengers in this sub. You are my co-pilot and you need to be capable of assuming control of the sub in an emergency.'   After a final safety check, the hatches are closed and secured. Next, the regulator is set and the oxygen begins to flow. The sub is pushed on a trailer to the launch site. Two divers unhook the craft from the trailer and gently guide her into the water. Almost immediately, the sensation is like being in a washing machine on the 'slow cycle'. In the choppy waters of Lake Tahoe, the sub bobs along on the surface as communications are established with the support vessel, a small craft affectionately called 'Sub Daddy.' [caption] Each pilot is given a Top Gun-style moniker. McLaren is Arctic Fox, Lewis is Rabid. I'm dubbed Reporter Girl. Inside the sub it's surprisingly cozy and dry. After five minutes bobbing on the surface, McLaren asks, 'Are you ready to dive?' After receiving the all-clear from Sub Daddy that there are no other vessels close by, he pushes the joystick forward, increases propulsion power and the Super Aviator slides beneath the waves and into another world. As she slips downwards, the water colour changes noticeably. The glare from the surface quickly disappears, to be replaced by a soothing blue and then, as we go deeper, to a dark azure and then black. It is a womb-like, calm experience. Several fish swim idly by. As the depth gauge reaches 100ft and then 200ft, a sense of peace descends. We reach a world of gently sloping sand banks topped with sea grass; seaweed unveils itself before us.  The sub is surprisingly responsive. A small right push on the joystick and it banks to the right, a gentle pull back and she begins to nose for the surface. The quiet is interrupted at regular intervals by calls from Sub Daddy on the surface to check the oxygen levels and air pressure. All-too-soon the first hour-long dive is over. At the surface, we cut through the water until we reach the landing dock and the divers guide us back onto the dock. The sub was the brainchild of maverick British inventor Graham Hawkes, who designed a prototype of the machine in the late Nineties. Originally from Tooting, south London, Hawkes went from designing underwater devices for British Special Forces to developing radical new one and two-man subs. THE LOW-DOWN ON THE SUPER AVIATOR Length 22ft Wingspan 12.2ft Weight 3800lbs Max descent rate 320ft/min Max ascent rate 600ft/min Max speed 6 knots (with optional thrusters, 7.9 knots) Capable of around four one-hour training dives a day, or a single four-hour long-range search mission. It has been depth tested to 1,250ft. Powered by electricity, it produces no pollution and almost no noise. He was working with Steve Fossett at the time of the adventurer's death in 2007 on a deep-dive sub capable of plunging to 35,000ft. Lewis became involved with Super Aviator after seeing the sub during early sea trials in the Bahamas. 'It was love at first sight,' he says. Lewis put together a consortium of fellow adventurers and investors and bought Hawkes' share in the Aviator two years ago. Together with McLaren, crew chief David Harper and investor Jay Wade, he formed SAS. The original sub's design was radically overhauled by engineer Phil Nuytten, a Canadian who made his name and fortune inventing the 'Newt Suit', a hard-shelled, jointed diving suit widely used in the offshore oil industry. Originally the sub was designed as a positively buoyant machine; in other words it used battery power to move forward and down but had to wage a continuous battle to stay underwater. If it went slower than the sub's 'stall speed' or got into difficulties, it would automatically nose up and head to the surface. 'That system had several drawbacks,' says McClaren. 'You had to continuously use speed and thus steadily drain the batteries to remain submerged. So we fitted a ballast system between the two pilot hulls. When it is time to submerge, the pilot can release air from the buoyancy tank and replace it with water to allow neutral or near neutral buoyancy.' The team plans to offer further flight schools and is hoping that the myriad capabilities of the submersible will be recognised by academic, government and commercial organisations to conduct scientific and archeological work in the oceans' depths. 'The possibilities for this sub are endless,' says McLaren. 'It can be used to explore shipwrecks and coral reefs, you could use it to survey oil rigs and other large underwater structures or for underwater filming. 'Finally, and most importantly, it can be used to educate the next generation on the largely unexplored wonders of the deep. 'It is the closest feeling to what flying is like in your dreams.' The incredible Super Aviator sub in action   An important note from Hawkes Ocean Technologies: 'Live's feature on the Super Aviator underwater flying machine claimed your journalist attended the world's first underwater pilot training school. In fact the first such school was set up in 2003 by Hawkes Ocean Technologies, who invented and built the first prototypes of the craft and later sold one to the company descrbed in your article. We were not 'bought out' and continue to run such schools and to build winged submersibles -

Transparent concept car lets you set up office anywhere California design firm Ideo has revealed three visions for the future or cars - all transparent They include a smart car that can turn its seats to form a living room, a smart delivery 'tube' that can drop off goods, and the moving meeting that can can turn any parking lot into an office It is definitely a unique way to get an office with a view. California design firm Ideo has revealed three visions for the future or cars - all transparent. They include a smart car that can turn its seats to form a living room, a delivery 'tube' that can drop off goods, and the moving office can can let you work from anywhere. Scroll down for video  WorkOnWheels, a concept which could see mobile office driving around the city to turn parking lots and even beachfronts into mobile offices for firms. The firm says it hopes the vehicles will cut people's commute time. The mobile office comes complete with a desk that can double as a meeting table. The firm says it can be driven to the beach for brainstorming sessions, or even linked toogether to form bigger spaces. 'As confidence grows in autonomous ways of delivering goods and autonomous driving becomes more mainstream, a third stage of automobility will come into existence,' Ideo says. 'It will involve inverse commutes, where working spaces come closer to where people live instead of commuters heading to pre-determined workplaces. Food trucks, laundry, mobile dentistry, and other ad hoc services can pop up around a 'Work On Wheels' site, ready to serve people working there, the firm believes. The designers predict that more companies will start using mobile offices that can make use of parking spaces or other temporarily vacant space in crowded cities, such as using a baseball stadium lot in the off season. At the end of the day, the office would head back to a garage to recharge. The firm also says delivery trucks are set for major changes - and have even given them a name, Cody. 'As we look ahead, we see self-driving delivery trucks— we call them 21st-Century mules— delivering everything from your new jeans to a hot lunch, almost instantly,' they says. Automobility (short trailer) from IDEO on Vimeo. 'After receiving notification that 'Cody' has arrived, you'll simply walk to the curb, do a biometric scan, and receive your package. No tips required.' The tubular transparent trucks would come on demand, so if you need a dress or lunch delivered, you could get it almost instantly.  A robot in the back would sort and resort packages as the route changes throughout the day.  The truck would serve as a drop-off spot for packages when it's parked.  By optimizing routes and delivering during off-peak hours, the trucks could reduce traffic and help save over $100 billion in gas costs in the U.S, the firm says. The tubular transparent trucks would come on demand, so if you need a dress or lunch delivered, you could get it almost instantly. A robot in the back would sort and resort packages as the route changes throughout the day.The truck would serve as a drop-off spot for packages when it's parked. By optimizing routes and delivering during off-peak hours, the trucks could reduce traffic and help save over $100 billion in gas costs in the U.S, the firm says. The firm has also given the car a makeover. Self-driving cars, which are coming in the next few years, will be common in a decade or two, it says. 'As we move from struggling with today’s inefficient relationship between cars and infrastructure to one empowered by automobility, new capacities and better use of our existing resources will emerge.  'Daily commutes will improve in ways that allow us to accomplish so much more, making the slow seem fast.  Ideo's concept is a self driving vehicle where seats can be turned around, making the centre console a desk or, for evening event, even a bar. It will also use smart software to allow more cars to fit on the road, by allowing them to drive closer together.  Ideo's concept is a self driving vehicle where seats can be turned around, making the centre console a desk or, for evening event, even a bar. It will also use smart software to allow more cars to fit on the road, by allowing them to drive closer together. 'Daily commutes will improve in ways that allow us to accomplish so much more, making the slow seem fast, Ideo says.   //

HUNT FOR THE RED OCTOBER: THE COLD WAR IS BACK

 

 

The bear in our backyard   Return of the Cold War as Royal Navy confronts Russian aircraft carrier group in the English Channel for the first time in years Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's largest warship, led six other vessels through the Channel last night A Royal Navy destroyer, HMS Dragon, was dispatched from Portsmouth to escort the task group 'Routine' passage comes amid period of heightened tension over troubles in Ukraine It came on the same day Russian president Vladimir Putin oversaw simulation of nuclear missile launches A Russian aircraft carrier and and a nuclear-powered battle cruiser have passed through the English Channel - escorted by a British warship. The seven-strong naval task group led by the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's largest warship, entered the Channel last night, a Royal Navy spokesman said. Although the ships did not enter UK territorial waters, their movements were tracked by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon - the duty fleet-ready escort vessel - which was dispatched from Portsmouth. Scroll down for video +8 Escort: HMS Dragon (foreground) with the Russian aircraft carrier 'Admiral Kuznetsov', in the English Channel. HMS Dragon tracked and met up with a Russian task group off the coast of Brest as they entered the English Channel yesterday +8 Watching: HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer and one of the Royal Navy's most technically advanced warships, was able to pinpoint and monitor the movement of the seven-strong group as it approached the UK The military manoeuvre came on the same day as president Vladimir Putin oversaw nuclear test launches in Russia. Three inter-continental ballistic missiles were launched at test sites in the remote east of Russia, in what the military said was a test run for massive nuclear retaliation should Russia or its allies be attacked. The ships, which are currently being escorted by the Navy, are believed to have been returning to the Baltic after manoeuvres in the Mediterranean. They are headed for a naval base in Severomorsk in the north-west of Russia. It is not unusual for Russian warships to pass through the Channel - the same group went through in the opposite direction in December. At no point have the ships entered the UK's territorial waters - which extend 12 nautical miles from the coast of the country. However, according to a UN treaty on sea passage, there is no reason military vessels should not be allowed through so long as they do not threaten the peace or security of a country. The Voice of Russia website - which often carries details of Russian naval movements - reported last month that they were due to return. However the latest passage took place against the backdrop of heightened tensions between the West and Russia over Ukraine. A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'We can confirm that HMS Dragon was activated as the fleet-ready escort vessel. She met the task group centred around the Admiral Kuznetsov.' Montage of jets on the 'Admiral Kuznetsov' aircraft carrier   +8 HMS Dragon (background) with the Russian Kirov Class battlecruiser 'Pyotr Velikiy' +8 HMS Dragon (right) with the Russian Ropucha Class Landing Ship 'Minsk' (left), in the English Channel Mark Francois, Minister for the Armed Forces, said: 'This routine action by HMS Dragon, in her capacity as the Fleet Ready Escort, once again underlines the professionalism and credibility of the Royal Navy in keeping the whole of the UK secure at and from the sea.' Captain Rex Cox, commanding officer of HMS Dragon said: 'Following our recent activation HMS Dragon has once more monitored a Russian task group through the UK's areas of interest. This is very much routine business both for HMS Dragon and for the Royal Navy. 'What is different here is that a Russian task group of this size has not passed by our shores in some time. Cutting edge, extremely capable and very versatile, a Type 45 Destroyer, such as HMS Dragon, is the ideal ship for the job.' Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the deployment of HMS Dragon was part of a pre-planned operation. 'The decision was taken about 10 days ago when we first knew of the Kuznetsov's planned route. These movements are pre-planned. We are notified of them in advance,' he said at a Westminster lunch for political journalists. +8 +8 Pride of the navy: The above two photographs show former Russian president (now prime minister) Dmitri Medvedev inspecting the Admiral Kuznetsov in 2008 +8 Once the ships spotted each other they briefly sailed close by as a standard 'meet and greet' He said that HMS Dragon had taken over from a French destroyer which tracked the Russian flotilla through the Bay of Biscay and would hand over to a Norwegian warship. While he stressed that the passage of the Russian ships was 'routine business' for the Navy, he said there had been a resurgence of Russian military air activity in recent years. He said that was a reflection of something which a lot of people have chosen to miss, which is that Russia has been investing very substantially for many years in renewing its fleets, rebuilding its military capability. 'Russia is a very significant military power and that is something which all too often seems to get forgotten.' HMS Dragon is the fourth of six Type 45 Destroyers which have entered service over the past five years – the most advanced warships the nation has ever built. +8 Surveillance: Planes were launched by the RAF to determine the identity of two unknown aircraft seen approaching the NATO Air Policing Area north of Scotland. They were identified as Russian Tu-95s In April an RAF Typhoon closed in on a Russian surveillance plane after it flew close to UK airspace, before making it turn back. A photograph of the Russian Tu-95 'Bear H' was taken from one of the RAF's Quick Reaction Aircraft after two Russian planes were spotted off the coast of north-east Scotland. However, the aircraft turned away after the British jet fighters, one which can be seen approaching the Russian plane from above, took off from Leuchars airbase, near St Andrews in Fife. Planes were launched by the RAF to determine the identity of two unknown aircraft seen approaching the NATO Air Policing Area north of Scotland, which could not be identified by other means. The aircraft were later identified as Russian Bears, which the Ministry of Defence said remained in international airspace, as they are entitled to do. ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV, JEWEL OF THE RUSSIAN FLEET Speed: 29 knots (33mph) Max range: 8,500 nautical miles Crew: 1,690 Weight: 43,000 tons Length: 305m Launched: 1985 Weapons:   8 x 30mm AK-630 anti-aircraft guns   8 x 9K22 Tunguska anti-air missiles   8 x GSh-30K six-barrel gatling guns 12 x P-700 Granit anti-ship missiles 18 x 8-cell Tor surface-to-air missile batteries 60 x RBU-12000 UDAV-1 anti-submarine missiles Cargo: 14 x Sukhoi Su-33 fighter jets, capable of travelling 3,000km at Mach 2   4 x Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets, capable of 750km at Mach 0.8 Helicopter cargo: 17 x Kamov Ka-27 anti-sub helicopters, with miniguns and torpedoes Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2623480/The-Cold-War-really-IS-Russian-aircraft-carrier-group-Soviet-era-ships-escorted-English-Channel-state-art-Royal-Navy-destroyer.html#ixzz3LWbCwuNl Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook   MoD scrambles Typhoon fighter jets after 'multiple' Russian planes spotted in Baltic airspace Aircraft from 3 (Fighter) Squadron took to the skies after four groups of Russian aircraft were detected by Nato Russian planes identified as a Russian Tupolec Tu22 Backfire bomber, four Sukoi Su27 and one Beriev A50 Mainstay An Antonov An26 Curl transport aircraft was also detected flying in Baltic airspace yesterday MoD said crafts, which were carrying out 'a variety of routine training', were monitored and escorted on their way Comes as Ukrainian president announced a plan to cease fighting in eastern Ukraine after months of unrest RAF Typhoon fighters were scrambled to intercept 'multiple Russian aircraft' as part of the Nato mission to police the airspace over the Baltics, the Ministry of Defence said yesterday. The aircraft from 3 (Fighter) Squadron were ordered into the skies after four separate groups of aircraft were detected by Nato air defences in international airspace near to the Baltic states. The aircraft were subsequently identified as a Russian Tupolev Tu22 Backfire bomber, four Sukhoi Su27 Flanker fighters, one Beriev A50 Mainstay early-warning aircraft and an Antonov An26 Curl transport aircraft. Scroll down for video +10 RAF Typhoon fighters (below) scrambled to intercept 'multiple Russian aircraft', including this Russian SU-27 Flanker (top), detected in Baltic airspace +10 A Russian Antonov An26 Curl transport plane (pictured) was one of the aircraft monitored in Baltic airspace, The Ministry of Defence confirmed +10 Two Russian SU-27 Flanker with a RAF Typhoon fighter approaching from the left. The MoD said the planes appeared to be carrying out a 'variety of routine training' +10 A Russian Tu22 Backfire bomber. The MoD said the aircraft were monitored by the Typhoons and escorted on their way following yesterday's interception The MoD said the Russian aircraft, which appeared to be carrying out a 'variety of routine training', were monitored by the Typhoons and escorted on their way. Four Typhoons - which are now stationed at the Siauliai air base in Lithuania - were deployed to the region last month in a show of support by Nato against the backdrop of the crisis in the Ukraine. Russia’s backing for armed separatists in the Ukraine had increased nervousness in the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia which do not have their own air defence fighters and rely upon Nato. In the past week, Nato aircraft have been scrambled 13 times due to unidentified aircraft operating around the Baltic region. +10 The Russian Beriev A50 Mainstay early warning aircraft. The interception was the sixth carried out by British aircraft - usually based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire +10 The Mainstay early warning aircraft. RAF Typhoon detachment commander Ian Townsend said they 'regularly' intercept Russian aircraft in the Baltic region as part of continued Nato efforts to police the airspace over the Baltics +10 The Antonov An26 Curl transport aircraft is followed by a RAF Typhoon. The scramble came as the Ukrainian president announced a plan to end fighting in eastern Ukraine +10 A Russian SU-25 Flanker. The president's announcement marked a major move towards peace in eastern Ukraine following months of unrest in the region The interception was the sixth to have been carried out by the British aircraft since their arrival from their home base in at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, in support of the Polish-led Nato detachment in Lithuania. The Typhoon detachment commander, Wing Commander Ian Townsend said: 'We regularly intercept Russian and civilian aircraft from UK Quick Reaction Alert and so this type of mission is core business for us and exactly what we were sent to the Baltic region by Nato to do. 'It was a thoroughly successful operation with both my ground crew and aircrew performing to the exacting professional high standards I have come to expect.' Russia brings new fighter jets close to Ukrainian border   +10 Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Stavropol, southern Russia for a day of events +10 Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Head of Rossiya Agricultural Production Cooperative Sergei Pyanov as they walk in a barley field outside Stavropol The RAF scramble came as the Ukrainian president announced a plan to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine, promising a unilateral cease-fire after discussions with the Russian and German leaders, a potential major development to bring peace to the country. Petro Poroshenko’s plan would offer pro-Russian insurgents in the eastern provinces that form the nation’s industrial heartland a chance to lay down weapons or leave the country. It could also help ease the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War, which was triggered by Moscow’s annexation of Crimea that followed the ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Russia president. THE RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT Tupolev Tu22 Backfire bomber Role: Long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber First flight: 30 August 1969 Top speed: Mach 1.88 (1,240 mph) Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, weapon systems operator) Weapons: Guns ( 23-mm GSh-23 cannon) plus missiles (including Raduga Kh-22 and Raduga Kh-15) Sukhoi Su27 Flanker fighters Role: Fighter aircraft First flight: 20 May 1977 Top speed: Mach 2.35 (1,550 mph) Crew: One Weapons: GSh-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds plus six medium-range AA missiles R-27 and two short-range heat-seeking AA missiles R-73 Beriev A50 Mainstay early-warning aircraft Role: Surveillance, early detection First flight: 19 December 1978 Top speed: 559 mph Crew: 15 Weapons: N/A Antonov An26 Curl transport aircraft Role: Transportation First flight: 21 May 1969 Cruising speed: 237 knots, 273 mph Crew: 5 (2 pilots, 1 radio operator, 1 flight engineer, 1 navigator) Weapons: N/A   Royal Navy frigate intercepts Russian vessel in the Baltic after warship strays close to Nato-protected waters   HMS Montrose was taking part in an exercise off the Danish coast The Type 23 frigate investigated an unidentified ship picked up on radar Russian warship RFS Soobrazitelny was carrying out routine manoeuvres Show of strength demonstrated Nato's resolve to protect its 28 members It's the latest in a series of encounters between British and Russian forces A Royal Navy warship intercepted a Russian military vessel that strayed close to Nato-protected waters in the Baltics in an echo of the Cold War. HMS Montrose, a Type 23 frigate, was taking part in a multinational exercise off the Danish coast when she was dispatched to investigate an unidentified surface ship picked up on radar. Despite choppy seas and 30 knot winds, the crew identified the unknown ship as the 104-metre-long Steregushchiy-class frigate RFS Soobrazitelny skirting Danish waters as it sailed west in the Baltic Sea. +4 Dispatched: HMS Montrose, a Type 23 frigate, was taking part in a multinational exercise off the Danish coast when she was sent to investigate an unidentified surface ship picked up on radar +4 Identified: The 104metre-long Steregushchiy-class frigate RFS Soobrazitelny, a Russian warship, appeared to be carrying out routine manoeuvres in international waters As HMS Montrose closed with the Russian vessel, a Russian Ilyushin IL-20 ‘Coot’ maritime patrol aircraft was detected and appeared overhead, circling the two ships. It was one of the Royal Navy’s most significant encounters with Russian warships in the region since the Ukraine crisis began. Navy chiefs said the show of strength demonstrated Nato’s resolve to protect its 28 members against any threat from the Kremlin. Both the Russian vessel and aircraft appeared to be carrying out routine manoeuvres in international waters. Commander James Parkin, commanding officer of HMS Montrose, said: ‘All our interaction so far has been professional, and effective, and we have gained huge benefit from working so closely with our allies in such a busy and challenging environment.’ Lieutenant Chloe Lea, HMS Montrose’s watch officer, said: ‘We picked up a vessel on our radar that was not showing any of the normal behaviour expected of merchant vessels or allied warships. +4 International waters: The encounter took place in the Baltic Sea. The incident was the latest in a series of encounters between British and Russian forces +4 Monitoring: As HMS Montrose closed with the Russian vessel, a Russian Ilyushin IL-20 'Coot' maritime patrol aircraft (pictured), was detected and appeared overhead, circling the two ships 'We have seen the Russians operate a lot in this area but this is the closest we have seen them.’ Plymouth-based HMS Montrose, which has 205 crew and is armed with Sting Ray torpedoes, Sea Wolf missiles and Harpoon missiles, is taking part in the US-led exercise involving warships, submarines and helicopters from 14 different nations. Last week’s incident was the latest in a series of encounters between British and Russian forces. WARSHIPS: BRITISH HMS MONTROSE Base: Plymouth Crew members on board: 205 Weapons and missiles: Armed with Sting Ray torpedoes, Sea Wolf missiles and Harpoon missiles Length: 133 metres Top speed: 28 knots RUSSIAN RFS SOOBRAZITELNY Base: St Petersburg Crew members on board: 98 Weapons and missiles: A combination of missile systems including Kh-35 missiles, 3M-54 Klub missiles and anti-torpedo missiles Length: 104 metres Top speed: 27 knots Earlier this month two RAF fighters shadowed seven menacing Russian warplanes that flew too close to Baltic airspace. The fully-armed Typhoons from 3 (Fighter) Squadron were scrambled after unidentified aircraft were detected by Nato air defences in international airspace. All were subsequently identified as Russian. Four Typhoons were deployed to the region in April under orders to respond forcefully to any violation of the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania which do not have their own air defence fighters and rely upon Nato. Silent killer: Nuclear submarine is latest in new fleet of Russian missile-carriers to have started sea trials nearly seven years after building began Vladimir Monomakh, third submarine in Russia's new fleet, began sea trials The silent submarine is the third in Russia's Borei project Fleet's first submarine, which cost $770m, was taken on by navy on same day Russia has begun testing the latest in its fleet of new nuclear submarines nearly seven years after it was started to be built. The silent submarine, the Vladimir Monomakh, which is the third ship in Russia's Borei project, began its sea trials on Sunday as it bids to become fully operational this year. The submarine was laid down at Russia's largest shipbuilding complex Sevmash on the shores of the White Sea in Severodvinsk, northern Russia in March 2006, which, coincidentally, was the 100th anniversary of the Russian submarine fleet. Latest addition: Russia's new Vladimir Monomakh submarine began its sea testing on Sunday Tests: The submarine is now in the water after building began on it in March 2006 It has been armed with a new missile system featuring between 16 and 20 Bulava missiles, which are intended to become the cornerstone of Russia's nuclear triad, and is the most expensive weapons project in the country. The submarine is part of a class of cruisers with the latest generation of nuclear reactor, which allows the ship to dive to a depth of 480 meters, www.rt.com has reported. It is also able to spend up to three months in autonomous navigation. The sub forms part of the Borei family of ships, which Russia hopes will provide the basis of its nuclear naval forces over the next few decades. The first of the Borei class is the Yury Dolgoruky, which has reportedly cost $770m and has recently completed its test programme. It was was due to be taken on by the Russian Navy on Sunday. Heavy duty: The submarine has been armed with a new missile system featuring between 16 and 20 Bulava missiles The Rubin deisgn bureau that designed the submarine said: 'The hoisting of the flag and the signing of the acceptance act is to be adopted at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk on Sunday, December 30.' Another missile cruiser in the Borei family, the Aleksandr Nevsky, is undergoing tests, Borisov has said. Meanwhile, the Knyaz Vladimir, the fourth, more advanced submarine, is currently being built. The Russians plan to have built ten Borei submarines over the next eight years, according to the state armaments programme of 2011-2020.   High hopes: The Borei fleet is expected to provide the basis of Russia's nuclear naval forces over the next few decades He was the man who saved the world by single-handedly averting World War Three five decades ago, yet he died humiliated, outcast and an unknown. Only now has his story has come to light. A documentary shown tonight told how for 13 days during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, the world held its breath as the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. stood on the brink of nuclear war. At the height of the Cold War, when paranoia on both sides meant the slightest provocation could spark nuclear war, four submarines secretly set sail from Russia to communist Cuba.     Averted war: Vasili Arkhipoy (pictured left, and right aboard a submarine), saved the world by single-handedly averting World War Three with one decision 50 years ago, yet he died humiliated, outcast and an unknown Only a handful of the submariners on board knew that their ships carried nuclear weapons, each with the strength of the bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945. Vasili Arkhipov, aboard the sub B59, was one of them. As his craft neared Cuba, U.S. helicopters, aeroplanes and battleships were scouring the ocean for Russian subs. 'At that period of time it was called "special weapon", not "nuclear torpedo",’ said Viktor Mikhailov, junior navigator on Sub B-59. ‘At that time we couldn't even imagine a nuclear torpedo.’ In a game of high stakes cat and mouse it wasn't long before the Russians were spotted. Arkhipov's sub was forced to make an emergency dive.       Remembered: Arkhipov is pictured left with his wife Olga in 1957, and right with his daughter Yelena, three years before he died in 1998 Tense: For 13 days during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, the world held its breath as the USSR and the U.S. stood on the brink of nuclear war As the submariners tried to stay hidden from their US hunters, conditions in the sub deteriorated. For a week they stayed underwater, in sweltering 60C heat, rationed to just one glass of water a day. 'Basically what we were trying to do was apply passive torture. Frankly I don't think we felt any sympathy for them at all. They were the enemy' Gary Slaughter, USS Cony signalman Above them, the U.S. navy were 'hunting by exhaustion' - trying to force the Soviet sub to come to the surface to recharge its batteries. They had no idea that on board the submarines were weapons capable of destroying the entire American fleet. Gary Slaughter, a signalman on board the USS Cony battleship, said: 'We knew they were probably having trouble breathing. It was hot as hell in there, they were miserable. Mr President: John F. Kennedy was in office in the U.S. between 1961 and 1963, at the height of the crisis Tense: The documentary recreated the dramatic moment when Soviet sailors decided not to fire the weapon 'They were cramped together and they had been under great stress for a long time. Basically what we were trying to do was apply passive torture. 'They said that the person who prevented a nuclear war was the Russian submariner Vasili Arkhipov. I was proud and I am proud of my husband always' Olga Arkipov, widow of Vasili Arkhipov 'Frankly I don't think we felt any sympathy for them at all. They were the enemy.' The Americans decided to ratchet up the pressure, and dropped warning grenades into the sea. Inside the sub, the Soviet submariners thought they were under attack. Valentin Savitsky, the captain of B59, was convinced the nuclear war had already started. He demanded that the submariners launch their torpedo to save some of Russia's pride. The programme on Channel 5 revealed how in any normal circumstances Savitsky's orders would have been followed, and World War Three would have been unleashed. 'Close friend': Ryurik Ketov, commander of Sub B-4, said Arkhipov was 'cool-headed' and 'in control' Memories: Viktor Mikhailov, junior navigator on Sub B-59, said they had a 'special weapon' on board, which was not even referred to as a 'nuclear weapon' Ryurik Ketov, commander of another sub, Sub B-4, said: ‘Vasili Arkhipov was a submariner and a close friend of mine. He was a family friend. He stood out for being cool-headed. He was in control.’ 'One of the Russian admirals told the submariners: "It would have been better if you'd gone down with your ship". Extraordinary' Thomas Blanton, historian Savitsky hadn't counted on Arkhipov. As commander of the fleet, Arkhipov had the last veto. And although his men were against him, he insisted that they must not fire - and instead surrender. It was a humiliating move - but one that saved the world. The Soviet submariners were forced to return to their native Russia, where they were given the opposite of a hero's welcome. Historian Thomas Blanton told the Sun: 'What heroism, what duty, they fulfilled to go halfway across the world and come back, and survive. Covert mission: In a game of high stakes cat and mouse it wasn't long before the Russian's were spotted Proud: Arkopov's widow Olga said: 'I was proud and I am proud of my husband, always' 'But in fact, one of the Russian admirals told the submariners; "It would have been better if you'd gone down with your ship." Extraordinary.' 'Vasili Arkhipov was a submariner and a close friend of mine. He was a family friend. He stood out for being cool-headed. He was in control' Ryurik Ketov, commander of Sub B-4 Four decades passed before the story of what really happened on the B59 sub was discovered. It was after Arkipov had died in 1998 from radiation poisoning. But to his widow Olga, he was always a hero. She said: 'He knew that it was madness to fire the nuclear torpedo. In Cuba, in honour of the 40th anniversary of the crisis, people gathered. ‘They said that the person who prevented a nuclear war was the Russian submariner Vasili Arkhipov. I was proud and I am proud of my husband always.’   ://

The Hunt for Red October: Ministry of Defence forced to ask US for help in search for Russian submarine thought to be lurking off North Atlantic coast American P3 Orion planes deployed this week on trail of mystery vessel Aircraft carrying out patrols alongside Royal Navy Frigate, HMS Somerset Sighting said to be linked to Vanguard submarine's exit from Faslane base Experts say planes bridge 'gaping chasm' in UK anti-submarine capability RAF scrapped Nimrod in 2010, amid warning it would weaken UK defences The Ministry of Defence has been forced to ask the US for help as it hunts for a suspected Russian submarine believed to be lurking off the coast of Scotland. Two U.S Navy aircraft were this week drafted in to carry out patrols in the North Atlantic in a bid to bridge the 'gaping chasm' in Britain's anti-submarine capability. It comes after the RAF's £4bn fleet of 'spy-in-the-sky' Nimrod surveillance aircraft was controversially scrapped in 2010, amid warning it would weaken Britain's defences. Scroll down for video +7 The Ministry of Defence has been forced to ask the US for assistance as it hunts for a suspected Russian submarine believed to be lurking off the coast of Scotland (stock image of Russian submarine) +7 The latest operation follows a recent surge in Russian naval and airforce activity (shown in graphic above) Experts said the latest request for assistance raises questions about the UK's ability to adequately protect its nuclear submarines. And Angus Robertson, the Scottish National Party's defence spokesman, said the deployment showed Britain had resorted to going to its allies with a 'begging bowl'. The U.S P3 Orion maritime patrol aeroplanes, which are currently based at RAF Lossiemouth, were deployed on the trail of the mystery vessel this week. The crews worked alongside the Royal Navy's anti-submarine frigate HMS Somerset, which has been operating off Scotland for a month. The emergence of the Russian submarine is said to be linked to the alleged departure from Faslane Naval base of one of the Royal Navy's Vanguard-class nuclear submarines, which carries Trident missiles. The base, at Gare Loch on the River Clyde, is the home of the UK's ballistic missile submarines. Peter Roberts, a senior fellow of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, told The Independent: 'HMS Somerset is a capable platform and I have no doubt that her deployment alongside these U.S Navy aircraft is related to the reported departure of a Royal Navy Vanguard ballistic missile submarine from Faslane, and the countering of any Russian deployment from over the horizon.' Inside the cockpit of the U.S Navy's submarine hunting P-3 Orion +7 The two U.S Navy P3 Orion maritime patrol aeroplanes were deployed to fill what defence experts described as a 'gaping chasm' in Britain's anti-submarine capability (stock image) +7 The U.S crews co-ordinated searches alongside the Royal Navy's anti-submarine frigate HMS Somerset (pictured), which has been operating off Scotland for one month (stock image) But he added that Ministry of Defence chiefs had been 'scratching their heads' ever since Nimrod was scrapped, adding: 'It has left a gaping chasm in the UK's capabilities and left us highly dependent on co-operation from our allies.' This week's operation follows a deployment last month by maritime patrol aircraft from Canada, France and the U.S.  The periscope was sighted in waters where British submarines would normally surface as they head into or out of Faslane. On that occasion, it was also suggested that a suspected Russian submarine may have been trying to track one of Britain's four Vanguard-class boats. Sources said 'visits' from Russian submarines were 'happening quite often' off the north and west coasts of Scotland. +7 Some say the presence of the Russian submarine could be linked to the alleged departure of the Royal Navy's Vanguard-class nuclear submarines (pictured) from Faslane naval base (stock image) In October, Sweden mounted a search for a suspected Russian submarine thought to be operating in its territorial waters. Sweden closed off waters and airspace off Stockholm and warned the public to stay away after the military made three sightings of the mystery vessel. It also said it had picked up three encrypted signals from a suspected submarine it believed to be Russian. One theory was that an experimental Russian mini-sub called the Triton NN had got into trouble on a spy mission in Swedish waters. Although the hunt was unsuccessful, defence officials said there was no doubt that their waters had been violated by a foreign power. Russia denied that any of its forces were involved. In November, the Royal Navy tracked four Russian warships passing through the English Channel. On this occasion The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the ships had been escorted out of UK waters by Royal Navy warship HMS Tyne. David Cameron axed the Nimrod MRA4 aerial surveillance planes in October 2010 as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. The MRA4 was intended to replace the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2 and would ensure that no foreign submarines could track Royal Navy vessels coming in and out of Faslane.  The MoD had signed a deal with BAE in 1996 to build 21 of the Nimrod planes, only for the contract to be reduced to 12 and then nine aircraft. +7 The request for foreign assistance comes after the RAF's £4bn fleet of Nimrod surveillance aircraft (pictured) was controversially scrapped under David Cameron in 2010 (stock image) +7 Last month, patrol aircraft from four countries were deployed after a suspected Russian submarine was sighted at Faslane naval base (pictured) where is was allegedly tracking one of the Vanguards (stock image) At the point of being scrapped, the project was £789m over-budget and more than nine years late. The political move prompted criticism from top military figures and MPs who warned it would weaken Britain's defences. Even the then Defence Secretary Liam Fox admitted the move was a 'risk', but ministers pressed on, claiming it would save the MoD £2billion. Meanwhile, Labour leader Ed Miliband this week backed replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system with the 'least-cost deterrent' possible. The submarine-based system is up for renewal in 2016 and the issue could be a key factor in any coalition deal after the May election. The current system involves four submarines, with one armed boat always at sea, operating out of Faslane.  A spokesman for the MoD said: 'Tough decisions had to be taken in order to rebalance the Defence budget, which included removing the Nimrod MR2 from service. 'However, maritime surveillance is provided through a combination of layered capabilities including surface ships, submarines, and air assets such as the RAF Hercules which searched for the missing yacht Cheeki Rafiki in May. 'The UK continues to work closely with its NATO allies in the operation of Maritime Patrol Aircraft.'   Hunt for Red October... off the coast of Scotland: Britain calls in Nato patrol planes to search for rogue submarine after periscope is spotted Five aircraft from four different nations were working with Royal Navy They were hunting for a suspected foreign submarine near Faslane in Scotland Operation comes amid growing tensions between the West and Russia  A rogue submarine was being hunted by NATO patrol planes after a periscope was spotted off the western coast of Scotland. At the height of the operation, five aircraft from four different nations were working with Royal Navy ships in the search for the mystery vessel. News of the operation, comes amid growing tensions between Western powers and Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis. +7 A periscope was sighted in waters where British submarines would normally surface as they head into or out of the Royal Navy’s submarine base at Faslane in Scotland. The incident comes just weeks after Sweden mounted a search for a suspected Russian submarine thought to be in its territorial waters. File picture +7 The periscope was was sighted in waters where British submarines would normally surface as they head into or out of the Royal Navy’s submarine base at Faslane in Scotland (pictured) +7 At the height of the operation, five aircraft from four different nations were working with Royal Navy ships in the search for the mystery vessel near Faslane, Scotland The periscope was sighted in waters where British submarines would normally surface as they head into or out of the Royal Navy’s submarine base at Faslane in Scotland - home of the UK’s ballistic missile submarines. Dr Lee Willett, Editor of IHS Jane’s Navy International, said: ‘What you have to remember about submarines is that they are a very useful way to project national power. By their very nature if you want them to be seen they can be, but if you don’t the ocean is a very big place and you have plausible deniability. ‘At this stage we do not know if the reported submarine was a Russian boat, but the Russians have used their submarines in the past to make the point that Russia is still here. ‘It is important to remember that when Putin came to power he made some very clear statements about the importance of the navy in restoring Russian power. ‘Such deployments should not be unexpected. If the deployment did take place, it seems very much like the Russians asserting their growing presence while also attempting to gather information on other nations. ‘Perhaps it is a case of Russia testing the UK’s response, looking to see how the UK responded and how quickly.' The incident comes after Sweden mounted a search for a suspected Russian submarine thought to be operating in its territorial waters in October. Sweden closed off waters and airspace off Stockholm and warned the public to stay away after the military made three sightings of the mystery vessel. It also said it had picked up three encrypted signals from a suspected submarine it believed to be Russian. One theory was that an experimental Russian mini-sub called the Triton NN had got into trouble on a spy mission in Swedish waters. Although the hunt was unsuccessful, defence officials said there was no doubt that their waters had been violated by a foreign power. +7 The Swedish Defence Ministry published this picture in October which shows a partially submerged object in the water, as they confirmed they had made three sightings of foreign undersea activity in the past few days following reports that a Russian submarine had got into difficulties in their waters +7 Sweden closed off waters and airspace off Stockholm and warned the public to stay away after the military made three sightings of the mystery vessel in October +7 The Swedish hunt was unsuccessful, defence officials said there was no doubt that their waters had been violated by a foreign power Russia denied that any of its forces were involved. There has also been a recent upsurge incidents of Russian long-range bombers approaching UK airspace. A total of 26 Russian were were intercepted around Europe in just 24 hours just days after the Sweden incident, including two giant Tu-95 Bear H bombers fly close to Britain. The British Typhoon pilots identified the Bear bombers visually and 'escorted' them around the edge of British airspace, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. Last month the Royal Navy tracked four Russian warships passing through the English Channel. On this occasion The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the ships had been escorted out of UK waters by Royal Navy warship HMS Tyne. Maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs) from France, Canada and the US conducted patrols, in conjunction with British surface warships in the search, which began around November 26 and continued into the first week of December, operating out of RAF Lossiemouth. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that it had received assistance from NATO allies but would not say whether they had been searching for a submarine. But a UK defence ministry spokesman told Aviation Week that Britain had ‘requested assistance from allied forces for basing of maritime patrol aircraft at RAF Lossiemouth for a limited period,’ adding: ‘The aircraft are conducting Maritime Patrol activity with the Royal Navy; we do not discuss the detail of maritime operations.’ +7 Incursion: A Russian Tu-95 Bear 'H' photographed from a RAF Typhoon Quick Reaction Aircraft with 6 Squadron from RAF Leuchars in Scotland on April 23, 2014 A spokesman for the Royal Canadian Air Force said: ‘Following a request for assistance from the United Kingdom, the Canadian Armed Forces deployed one CP-140 Aurora Aircraft to RAF Lossiemouth for a limited time.’ An RAF Sentinel radar-reconnaissance aircraft was one of the planes said to have taken part in the operation which appeared finally to have drawn to a close last week. A MoD spokeswoman said: ‘Nato partners have provided assistance for the operation of maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth for a limited period with the Royal Navy. We do not discuss the detail of maritime operations.’ Latvia has warned the Swedish hunt for a Russian submarine spotting in its water could become a security 'game changer'. The Swedish military today began their fifth day of searchers, after yesterday closing off waters and airspace off Stockholm and widening their search area from 30 miles to 45 miles southeast of the capital. Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics wrote on Twitter: 'Closely following events in the Swedish territorial waters, may become a game changer of the security in the whole Baltic Sea region.' Scroll down for video +7 Latvia has warned the Swedish hunt for a Russian submarine spotting in its water could become a security 'game changer' in the Baltic sea +7 The Swedish military today began their fifth day of searchers, after yesterday closing off waters and airspace off Stockholm and widening their search area from 30 miles to 45 miles southeast of the capital +7 Sweden's biggest submarine hunt since the Cold War has put countries around the Baltic Sea on edge +7 The military released a picture on Sunday showing a partially submerged vessel near Stockholm Sweden's biggest submarine hunt since the dying days of the Soviet Union has put countries around the Baltic Sea on edge. The events in the past days have sparked alarm across the Baltic Sea in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — three small former Soviet republics already spooked by Russia's intervention in Ukraine. Estonia stepped up surveillance of its territorial waters, with the border guard looking out for 'potential anomalies,' spokesman Priit Parkna said. Lithuanians were concerned over the safety of a floating natural gas import terminal currently being transported on the Baltic Sea to the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda. The terminal will be key to Lithuania's plans to reduce its reliance on Russian energy. Sweden continues hunt for 'foreign underwater activity' Yesterday the military confirmed it has made three sightings - two on Friday, and one on Sunday - of foreign undersea activity and it was revealed they were also investigating reports of a mysterious man seen with a backpack wading into the sea. One theory was that an experimental Russian mini-sub called the Triton NN had got into trouble on a spy mission in Swedish waters. The Triton-NN - developed around six years ago - has been called 'the synthesis of high-speed boat and underwater vehicle'. +7 Yesterday the military confirmed it has made three sightings - two on Friday, and one on Sunday - of foreign undersea activity and revealed they were also investigating reports of a mysterious man seen with a backpack It is a 'submersible boat' capable of landing personnel on enemy beaches or depositing divers in key locations. On Sunday the military also released a grainy picture showing a partially submerged object, believed to be the 'foreign vessel' in the Stockholm Arcipelago. As their hunt intensified yesterday, Russian authorities who have denied any involvement, instead pointed the finger at the Dutch. They quickly denied the allegation.  Meanwhile, Russian media suggested the Swedes were overreacting. The Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper even speculated that the submarine hunt could be a ploy by the Swedish military to boost its defense budget, which has undergone a series of cuts since the Cold War. The official government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta questioned whether there was any submarine at all, noting the Swedes hadn't found anything. 'Either Sweden's echo location equipment is working badly or, as the old saying goes, the eyes of fear see danger everywhere,' the paper said. Military spokesman Jesper Tengroth said more than 200 personnel were involved in the operation, but stressed that unlike Sweden's submarine hunts in the 1980s, the military wasn't using depth charges or other anti-submarine weapons. Speculating on whether the suspected underwater intruder was linked to a mother ship, Swedish media zeroed in on an oil tanker owned by Russian company Novoship, which had been circling near Swedish waters. +7 As the Swedish military's hunt intensified, Russian authorities who have denied any involvement, yesterday pointed the finger at the Dutch. They quickly denied the allegation +7 The submarine scare in Sweden comes after a string of border incidents involving Russian forces that Western analysts say signal Moscow's growing assertiveness in the Baltic Sea region In a statement yesterday, Novoship President Yuri Tsvetkov said he was 'flattered' by the attention but said the ship was charted for transporting oil from Russia to the U.S. and was drifting on standby awaiting loading orders. The submarine scare in Sweden comes after a string of border incidents involving Russian forces that Western analysts say signal Moscow's growing assertiveness in the Baltic Sea region. Finland's Environment Institute said last week that Russian military ships had twice intercepted one of its research vessels in international waters. On September 5 an Estonian security service officer was detained on the Russian border — Estonia and Russia disagree on which side of it — and is still in custody in Moscow. Both Sweden and Finland, which are not NATO members, have reported airspace violations by Russian military aircraft in the past two months. Even when they stay in international airspace, Russian aircraft are conducting more ambitious maneuvers than at any point since the end of the Cold War, Western analysts say. During Easter last year, Russian warplanes exercising over the Baltic Sea appeared to simulate attacks on targets in Sweden, embarrassing the Swedish Air Force which didn't have any jets on standby. 'These are aggressive attack drills where they make a clear statement to their neighbors,' said strategic analyst Magnus Christiansson of the Swedish National Defense College. NATO says Russian airborne military activity in the Baltic region so far this year is two-and-a-half times higher than last year, and the alliance has boosted its own air patrols over tiny members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. However, a submarine sneaking into another country's territorial waters would be much more serious than muscle-flexing maneuvers in the air, Christiansson said. 'To have military forces operating secretly on another country's territory, that's something different,' he said. 'It is a hostile act.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2800088/Submarine-hunt-sends-Cold-War-chill-Baltic.html#ixzz3LWZLpOUr Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook Russian troops 'returning to Ukraine border areas' weeks after withdrawing following Western pressure and one day after cutting off gas supply to the country Fresh tension - both sides accusing the other of tank incursions between the two ex-Soviet states NATO is alleging Moscow has provided military equipment to separatists Russia this week shut down gas supplies to Ukraine New president Petro Poroshenko vowed to retake control this week Russia is again increasing its troop numbers and air force patrols in border areas close to Ukraine, it was claimed today. The move - certain to worry the West - comes amid fresh tension on the frontier with both sides accusing the other of tank incursions between the two ex-Soviet states, and NATO alleging Moscow has provided military equipment to separatists. Russia this week shut down gas supplies to Ukraine, while new president Petro Poroshenko vowed to retake control this week of porous border posts in Donetsk and Lugansk regions now in the hands of rebels. +10 Ukrainian troops patrol an area near the border of Ukraine with Russia outside Kharkiv +10 The move - certain to worry the West - comes amid fresh tension on the frontier with both sides accusing the other of tank incursions between the two ex-Soviet states, and NATO alleging Moscow has provided military equipment to separatists Kiev analyst Dmitry Tymchuk warned today: 'We are getting back the former threat of a massive invasion of the Russian army.' More... Russia circulates new UN resolution on Ukraine Russia cuts gas supply to Ukraine as tensions soar Russian troops - which had left the area several weeks ago on Vladimir Putin's orders following strong Western pressure - were now 'closer to the border to the North from Dolzhansky checkpoint' while the 'flow of mercenaries and weapons' had increased, he said. At least three tanks plus other heavy equipment are said to be in the hands of separatists who at the weekend shot down a Ukrainian military transport plane, killing 50. +10 A Ukrainian soldier aims his rifle as Ukrainian troops patrol in an armoured vehicle an area near the border of Ukraine with Russia outside Kharkiv Ukraine's national security chief Andriy Parubiy backed up Tymchuk's claim, warning the Russian forces 'are ready at any time to switch to taking more active and aggressive actions'. A total of 41,500 Russian troops remain on Ukraine's borders in the east, in Crimea and in the breakaway region on Transnistria in Moldova, he alleged. Before Putin ordered troops back to barracks, Western sources believed there were 45,000 troops on Ukraine's eastern border alone. He put the current figure here at 16,000. 'Despite President Vladimir Putin saying there had been a withdrawal of Russian troops from our eastern border, we have the information that on June 15 the Russian armed forces redeployed close to the borders of Ukraine some subdivisions of the 76th Pskov Guards Air Assault Division,' said Parubiy. +10 The Yasen class nuclear attack submarine being commissioned into the Russian Navy at the Sevmash shipyard today +10 K-329 Severodvinsk is a Yasen-class submarine nuclear attack Severodvinsk submarine of the Russian Navy Moscow had also 'redeployed personnel using four Il-76 military transport aircraft - about 150 servicemen and equipment of the 76th Air Assault Division to Millerovo air field, which is 20 kilometres from the border with Ukraine.' A source close to the Russian defence ministry cited by Vedomosti newspaper on Tuesday appeared to confirm the build-up. +10 Ukrainian nationalists and participants of tha Maidan self-defense unit join a rally in front of the Ukrainian parliament +10 Maidan activists block the service entrance of the Ukrainian parliament building +10 Ukrainian nationalists and participants of the Maidan self-defense units flank a 'Passage of shame' with portraits of deputies laying on the ground in front of the Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council), the Ukrainian parliament, demanding early parliament elections in Kiev Four tactical battalions from two air assault divisions - the 7th and 76th - were being 'transported to regions close to the border' along with other firepower, said the source. In recent days, Russian fighter jets and attack helicopters had startedpatrols close to the border. 'It is being done for the sake of providing security at the Russian state border due to the recent numerous violations from the Ukrainian army,' said the source. +10 Ukrainian women stand in front of the Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council), the Ukrainian parliament, demanding the return of their recruited husbands from the zones of anti-terrorist operation in the country's east, in Kiev +10 A man holds a placard reading "World, stop Putler!" depicting Russia's president Vladimir Putin as late German Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, during a protest against Russia's president in front of the Russian consulate in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv   Russia takes on Google: Photographs of amphibious drones suggest country is developing a robotic ground army Ground-based robots were spotted at Russia's Rzhevka training ground Among them was an amphibious model and a smaller six-wheeled robot Their appearance follows Google's acquisition of Boston Dynamics and several other robotic companies Emerging from a lake, a giant amphibious drone gingerly picks its way over Russia’s Rzhevka military training ground. This huge drone is the latest in a menagerie of automated robots to be developed worldwide, adding to what some have described as the creation of ground-based robotic armies. Its appearance comes as large organisations, such as Google and Amazon, invest in drone technology, with some experts claiming the it could lead to a full on robotics war by 2020.  Scroll down for video... Russia is reportedly developing weaponised ground drones, including some big amphibious models such as the ones shown here Air-based drones have been under development in Russia for some time, with reports last year that the country had been developing a new 20-tonne attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). These latest images, however, provide a glimpse into Russia's future capabilities in ground-based drones. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the country is aware of the potential of unmanned vehicles, but does not intend to use them the way other countries do. ‘Today they [drones] are used more and more widely in the world. We won't do it the way other countries do,’ said President Putin in November last year. ‘This is not a game, this is not a computer game, these are serious combat systems, both shock and reconnaissance versions, and it is absolutely clear that they have good prospects. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the country is aware of the potential of unmanned vehicles, but does not intend to use them the way other countries do. Pictured here is a drone at the Rzhevka military training ground in Russia The country is reportedly developing a variety of ground-based drones including smaller six-wheeled models such as the one shown here THE RISE OF THE ROBOT WARS Last year, Google's chief Eric Schmidt warned drone technology proves a serious danger to global security. Mr Schmidt said that the technology for armed unmanned planes will soon pass into the hands of terrorists posing huge security concerns across the globe. He also said that ever expanding drone technology is making smaller and cheaper models, including nano-drones, which could be used by nosy neighbors spying on each other in a dispute. 'I'm not going to pass judgement on whether armies should exist, but I would prefer to not spread and democratise the ability to  fight war to every single human being,' he said. In December, Google acquired robotic firm Boston Dynamics. The firm, bought for an unspecified figure, is the eighth robotics company snapped up by Google in recent years. The Russian government is also in talks to establish an organisation that will develop and produce unmanned aircraft systems, according to theVoice of Russia. It’s not just Russia who increased invested in drone technology. Boston Dynamics, which made the Big Dog machine, was recently acquired by the internet giant Google. The firm, bought for an unspecified figure, is the eighth robotics company snapped up by Google in recent years and is unlikely to be the last. Three of Google’s recent acquisitions make robotic arms, used for lifting heavy weights and unloading trucks. Another, Maku, makes androids that have eyelids, workable fingers and ears that move and flex, while another makes hi-tech cameras that were used to film recent Hollywood hit Gravity. So what is Google, better known for running an online search engine, doing amassing a vast wealth of robotic experts and patents? When asked whether the company is building an army of domestic servant robots, a press officer for Google in the UK laughed, before adding they didn’t know. The Russian government is also in talks to establish an organisation that will develop and produce unmanned aircraft systems, as well as ground-based drones pictured here It's not just Russia who has increased invested in drone technology. Boston Dynamics, which made the Big Dog machine, was recently acquired by the internet giant Google. The infographic shows recent corporate investments in robotic technology Google is not the only American company working on projects that might seem more akin to a Hollywood blockbuster. Amazon recently announced plans to begin offering some deliveries by airborne drones. Called ‘Octocopters’, the flying robots will take orders directly from the warehouse to homes or offices following GPS satellites and could be ready in five years. ‘I know this looks like science  fiction, but it’s not,’ said Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos. Company sources also recently said the group was working on even more ambitious and futuristic projects – but refused to elaborate on what they might be. Meet THE robot that can run faster than Usain Bolt... The appearance of this Russian drone comes as large organisation such as Google and Amazon invest in drone technology, with some experts claiming the technology could lead to a full on robotic war by 2020