The UK and Germany have signed a defence pact with the aim of closer co-operation in the face of a growing threat from Russia. Under the agreement, German submarine-hunting planes will operate from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and arms giant Rheinmetall is set to open a factory producing artillery gun barrels using British steel.

The two governments said they will coordinate more on defense, with British and German troops conducting joint military exercises on NATO’s eastern border.

The agreement amounts to a comprehensive reboot of defense ties between London and Berlin that had lacked structure since Britain left the European Union.