British fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft near carrier: Defence Ministry
London, July 6
Two British F-35 fighter jets intercepted and escorted a Russian maritime patrol aircraft after it repeatedly approached a British aircraft carrier in the Norwegian Sea, the British Ministry of Defence said on Monday.
In a post on social media platform X, the ministry said the Russian Bear-F aircraft flew "unnecessarily close" to HMS Prince of Wales, dropped multiple sonobuoys -- air-dropped devices used to detect and track submarines and other underwater activity -- in the area, and failed to respond on international safety frequencies.
The incident occurred on July 2 while the British Carrier Strike Group was conducting Operation FIRECREST, British media reported, Xinhua news agency reported.
Two F-35 fighter jets operating from HMS Prince of Wales intercepted the aircraft and escorted it until it left the area, the ministry 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 aircraft flew unnecessarily close to HMS Prince of Wales, dropped multiple sonobuoys nearby, and failed to respond on international safety frequencies. This activity was unsafe and unprofessional," the Ministry wrote on X.
The British Carrier Strike Group continues to operate alongside NATO allies in the High North, focusing on security in the Arctic and North Atlantic, the ministry added.
As of press time, Russia has not publicly responded to the British statement.
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry also announced that Britain's Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, is helping to defend Europe and the North Atlantic, with F-35 jets conducting North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) air policing operations from the deck for the first time.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP, accompanied by Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, visited UK forces on board the Royal Navy's flagship HMS Prince of Wales, which is deployed off Iceland under NATO command.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This feels like Cold War 2.0, honestly. Russia dropping sonobuoys near a British carrier in the Norwegian Sea — that's just asking for escalation. But India should take note: we need similar naval capabilities to protect our Indian Ocean interests. Can't rely on anyone else.
The West loves to complain about "unprofessional" Russian behavior, but let's not forget their own near-misses in other regions. NATO air policing in the Arctic? That escalates tensions too. Both sides need to calm down and talk. 😒
India must watch this closely. We have our own challenges with Chinese vessels in the Indian Ocean, and Russia is a key partner for us — but these incidents with NATO show how volatile global power games are. Strategic autonomy is the way forward. 🧐
Flying unnecessarily close to an aircraft carrier is reckless. Period. Russia knows exactly what they're doing — probing defenses. But I'm also a bit skeptical about NATO's "defending Europe" narrative. These military exercises near Russia's borders don't help peace. Two wrongs don't make a right.
As an Indian who believes in non-alignment, I find this whole situation troubling. Russia and the West should focus on cooperation — climate change in the Arctic, for example — instead of these childish games. But yes, Britain did the right thing by intercepting. Safety first.
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