EPISODE · Jun 26, 2026 · 34 MIN
The Undersea Threat: Submarines, Seabed Warfare and Ireland's Security
from STANDEASY
This episode forms part of STANDEASY's continuing Threats Series, examining the evolving security challenges facing Ireland, Europe, and the wider international environment.In this episode, I am joined by Ryan Ramsey, former Royal Navy Commander, Captain of the nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Turbulent, and former head of the Royal Navy's renowned Submarine Command Course, "Perisher".The discussion explores the growing strategic importance of the undersea domain and the re-emergence of submarine activity as a major security concern in the North Atlantic.We begin by examining the current sub-surface threat environment, how Russian submarine capabilities have evolved in recent years, and why the North Atlantic remains a critical theatre for European and transatlantic security.The conversation then turns to the importance of undersea infrastructure, including subsea communications cables, offshore energy systems, and the role they play in supporting modern economies and national resilience. We examine the specialist capabilities operated by Russia's Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI) and discuss the extent to which concerns surrounding seabed infrastructure are justified.Ryan also explains why modern anti-submarine warfare is far more than individual ships or aircraft hunting submarines. Instead, it is a highly integrated system involving sensors, intelligence, platforms, data fusion, and multinational cooperation working together to create awareness of the undersea environment.The discussion then focuses on Ireland's emerging undersea surveillance capability through the acquisition of the CAPTAS-1 towed array sonar system. We explore what practical capability this provides, how it compares to more advanced NATO systems, and what additional steps Ireland would need to take if it wishes to build a more credible anti-submarine warfare capability.Finally, the episode addresses an increasingly important strategic question for Ireland and other European states: as dependence on undersea infrastructure grows and the North Atlantic becomes more contested, at what point does the decision not to invest in organic anti-submarine warfare capability become a strategic vulnerability?STANDEASY is Ireland's podcast exploring defence, security, and the State's place in the world.
What this episode covers
This episode forms part of STANDEASY's continuing Threats Series, examining the evolving security challenges facing Ireland, Europe, and the wider international environment.In this episode, I am joined by Ryan Ramsey, former Royal Navy Commander, Captain of the nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Turbulent, and former head of the Royal Navy's renowned Submarine Command Course, "Perisher".The discussion explores the growing strategic importance of the undersea domain and the re-emergence of submarine activity as a major security concern in the North Atlantic.We begin by examining the current sub-surface threat environment, how Russian submarine capabilities have evolved in recent years, and why the North Atlantic remains a critical theatre for European and transatlantic security.The conversation then turns to the importance of undersea infrastructure, including subsea communications cables, offshore energy systems, and the role they play in supporting modern economies and national resilience. We examine the specialist capabilities operated by Russia's Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI) and discuss the extent to which concerns surrounding seabed infrastructure are justified.Ryan also explains why modern anti-submarine warfare is far more than individual ships or aircraft hunting submarines. Instead, it is a highly integrated system involving sensors, intelligence, platforms, data fusion, and multinational cooperation working together to create awareness of the undersea environment.The discussion then focuses on Ireland's emerging undersea surveillance capability through the acquisition of the CAPTAS-1 towed array sonar system. We explore what practical capability this provides, how it compares to more advanced NATO systems, and what additional steps Ireland would need to take if it wishes to build a more credible anti-submarine warfare capability.Finally, the episode addresses an increasingly important strategic question for Ireland and other European states: as dependence on undersea infrastructure grows and the North Atlantic becomes more contested, at what point does the decision not to invest in organic anti-submarine warfare capability become a strategic vulnerability?STANDEASY is Ireland's podcast exploring defence, security, and the State's place in the world.
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The Undersea Threat: Submarines, Seabed Warfare and Ireland's Security
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