Threats to the UK are "real and rising", the UK's defence chief has warned after lasers were aimed at RAF pilots from a Russian spy ship. Speaking to The Mirror , Defence Secretary John Healey said Vladimir Putin is ramping up his agression - and said the public must recognise a "new era of threat". On Wednesday he dramatically revealed the Navy and Air Force had been deployed against a Kremlin spy ship, the Yantar, which has entered UK waters in recent days. He confirmed that lasers had been