French navy 'spots Russian nuclear-armed submarine in Bay of Biscay'

A Russian submarine carrying nuclear missiles was reportedly spotted in the Bay of Biscay

Russian submarines pictured in 2003 (Getty)

The French navy has detected a Russian submarine carrying nuclear missiles in the Bay of Biscay, Obs magazine reported on Thursday, citing a senior French official.

According to Obs, the submarine, from the Murmansk base, did not enter France's territorial waters, but was seen off France's Atlantic coast in January.

A spokesman for the French navy did not confirm or deny the information, saying it was a general policy not to communicate on such matters.

The spokesman said: "Russian naval activity has been on the rise for several months, if not years, and we are permanently attentive to it."

Russia has flexed its military muscle over the past couple of years amid heightened tensions between the West and Moscow over Ukraine,

The NATO military alliance has repeatedly reported more incursions by Russian fighters and long-range bombers into its airspace.

In Britain and Sweden patrol planes have searched their waters over the past two years after the sighting of a submarine's periscope and reports of foreign "underwater activity".

In mid-February French and British fighter jets intercepted two Russian Tu-160 bomber planes heading toward British airspace near the French coast.

Reuters