UK jets intercept Russian aircraft near carrier

A Russian maritime patrol aircraft was intercepted by British fighter jets last week after repeatedly approaching a Royal Navy carrier strike group in an unsafe manner, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence. The incident occurred in the Norwegian Sea on July 2 while the HMS Prince of Wales and its accompanying vessels were operating under NATO command as part of Operation Firecrest.

Officials stated that a Russian Bear-F aircraft passed at low altitude and unnecessarily close to the flagship aircraft carrier, dropping a large number of sonobuoys in close proximity to the vessel. Sonobuoys are sonar devices used to detect and track submarines. The Ministry of Defence described the activity as unsafe and unprofessional. Two U.K. F-35 jets launched from the deck of HMS Prince of Wales intercepted the Russian aircraft and escorted it from the area.

The carrier strike group's deployment to the High North and Arctic regions is a NATO effort to bolster security amid what allies describe as growing Russian military activity. Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis, who visited forces aboard HMS Prince of Wales off Iceland, stated that the threat from Russia exists across all domains. He...