German submarine-hunting planes will fly from Scotland, patrolling the North Atlantic amid increasing threats by Russia against NATO.

Britain and Germany will sign, what the UK government is calling a “landmark defence agreement” aimed at boosting security, investment and jobs. Under the agreement the German defence company, Rheinmetall will open a new factory in the UK to manufacture barrels for artillery guns – supporting 400 jobs.

Officials say German submarine-hunting planes will patrol the North Atlantic from a base in Scotland under a new Britain-Germany defense pact in response to the growing threat from Russia.

The deal will see German planes operating from a Scottish airbase and increase co-operation on developing new equipment.

Britain and Germany will sign a defence agreement on Wednesday, the first of its kind between Europe's two biggest spenders on defence, which includes a commitment to develop new deep-strike weapons.

Britain and Germany Wednesday announced a new bilateral defense agreement that aims to enhance defense cooperation amid escalating security concerns triggered by the Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine.

Britain and Germany signed a landmark defence agreement on Wednesday and pledged to co-operate on exercises on NATO's eastern flank as they stressed the need for Europe to be able to defend itself given possible escalation in the war in Ukraine.