The UK has intercepted two Russian jets over the Norwegian Sea after they ‘repeatedly approached’ the HMS Princes of Wales aircraft carrier.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said two Bear F maritime patrol aircraft dropped numerous sonobuoys not far from the UK’s Carrier Strike Group on July 2.
A sonobuoy is a small, expendable floating device dropped into the sea from an aircraft or ship to detect and track submarines.
The Russian planes were intercepted and then escorted away from the carrier vessel by two UK F-35 jets.
It’s understood the Russian aircraft did not respond when operators attempted to contact them to establish their intentions as they approached the carrier.
The development coincides with the UK taking charge of NATO’s frontline rapid-response force, dubbed the alliance’s ‘spearhead’.
The elite unit is designed to rush troops to global hotspots within days.
The carrier strike group is currently deployed under NATO’s command in the High North in an effort to boost North Atlantic security.
The Russian planes were intercepted and escorted away from the carrier vessel by two UK F-35 jets from HMS Prince of Wales (pictured)
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said two Bear F maritime patrol aircraft (left) dropped numerous sonobuoys not far from the UK’s Carrier Strike Group on July 2
Since leaving Portsmouth in April, HMS Prince of Wales has acted as the flagship of Operation Firecrest, with the strike group’s headquarters operating from onboard.
A MoD spokesperson said: ‘While operating in the Norwegian Sea on Operation FIRECREST, the UK’s Carrier Strike Group was repeatedly approached by a Russian ‘Bear-F’ maritime patrol aircraft.
‘The Bear-F passed at low altitude and unnecessarily close to HMS Prince of Wales and dropped a large number of sonobuoys in close proximity to the carrier.
‘This activity was unsafe and unprofessional. The Russian aircraft was intercepted and escorted by two UK F-35 jets from HMS Prince of Wales until it left the area.’
The latest encounter comes less than a month after Royal Marines seized the Russian-linked tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel.
British forces boarded the vessel from a helicopter during a six-hour operation targeting Moscow’s sanctions-busting ‘shadow fleet’.
More to come.
