UK fighter jets were forced to intercept an ‘unsafe’ Russian aircraft after it ‘repeatedly approached’ a carrier strike group in the Norwegian Sea. The Russian ‘Bear-F’ jet dropped a large number of sonic devices called sonobuoys near the Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, the Ministry of Defence said.
Interception by F-35s
Two F-35s took off from the Prince of Wales to escort the Russian plane away from the area. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson 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.’
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on July 6, 2026, in the Norwegian Sea. The Russian aircraft, a Tupolev Tu-142 (NATO reporting name Bear-F), is typically used for anti-submarine warfare. Sonobuoys are acoustic devices used to detect submarines. The close proximity and low-altitude pass were deemed hazardous by UK officials.
Broader Context
This encounter is part of heightened tensions between Russia and NATO nations in the region. The UK’s Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, has been conducting exercises as part of Operation Firecrest. The Ministry of Defence emphasized that such actions by Russia are unprofessional and risk escalation.
