Two UK F-35 Lightning jets from HMS Prince of Wales scrambled to intercept a Russian Tupolev Tu-142 'Bear-F' maritime patrol aircraft after it repeatedly approached the UK's Carrier Strike Group in the Norwegian Sea, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The Russian aircraft passed at low altitude and unnecessarily close to the carrier, dropping a large number of sonobuoys in close proximity, which the MoD described as 'unsafe and unprofessional'.
Interception Details
The British forces attempted to contact the Russian plane on international frequencies, but it did not respond, prompting the pair of F-35 jets to lead the Bear-F away until it left the area. The incident occurred while the Carrier Strike Group was operating on Operation Firecrest, deployed off Iceland under NATO command.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence stated: '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.'
Carrier Strike Group Composition
The UK's Carrier Strike Group currently consists of HMS Prince of Wales, Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, F-35 jets, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters, and is supported by RFA Tidespring. Around 1,500 British personnel are on board. The Bear-F, a long-range reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, dropped tens of sonobuoys—monitoring devices that float on water and use sonar to detect submarines and other vessels—into the waters near the Prince of Wales.
Defence Secretary's Remarks
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis visited UK forces on board HMS Prince of Wales over the weekend. He told Channel 4 News: 'We should be clear-eyed about the fact that the threat from Russia exists in every domain, under the water, on the water, on the land, in the sky, in space and in cyberspace as well.' Mr Jarvis added that 'some of what the Americans have said in recent times is absolutely right' and that 'Europe does need to step up.'
