British F-35s intercepted a Russian aircraft near an aircraft carrier during a NATO mission in the Arctic
Kyiv • UNN
A Russian Bear F patrol aircraft approached the UK carrier strike group. The aircraft dropped sonobuoys near HMS Prince of Wales.
Britain intercepted a Russian aircraft after moving an aircraft carrier to the Arctic Circle to support NATO missions, UNN reports, citing Politico.
Details
The UK Ministry of Defense said on Monday that a Russian maritime patrol aircraft "Bear F" (Tu-142) repeatedly approached the UK carrier strike group in the Norwegian Sea, performing a "dangerous and unprofessional" maneuver late last week.
It noted that the Russian aircraft dropped a large number of sonobuoys — devices that can act as underwater microphones to search for and track submarines — near the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
The Russian aircraft were intercepted and escorted by British F-35 fighters from the carrier on July 2. HMS Prince of Wales — one of two British aircraft carriers — is the first European aircraft carrier to conduct NATO air defense operations with F-35 fighters.
This move comes as Britain has taken command of an alliance special forces unit for the first time, which the UK Ministry of Defense describes as a "forward" NATO rapid deployment command and "capable of deploying anywhere in the world within days."
Last week, it was reported that the superyacht of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, worth £100 million (approximately €117 million), is crossing the coast of Norway to return to Russia.
In an interview with the publication, UK Defense Minister Dan Jarvis declined to say whether the HMS Prince of Wales is tracking that vessel, but said: "We know where it is."
He added: "The fact that the yacht is moving is, again, another combat indicator — to use a phrase from my past — that he [Putin] is under increasing pressure."