Image@ PA Media
British fighter aircraft intercepted a Russian maritime patrol plane after it repeatedly flew close to a Royal Navy carrier strike group operating in the Norwegian Sea, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced.
According to the MoD, the Russian Tu-142 “Bear-F” aircraft made several low-level passes near the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales on Thursday and is anticipated to have released 10 sonobuoys into the sea.
The floating sonar devices are designed to detect submarines and other naval vessels beneath the surface.
British personnel attempted to establish radio contact with the aircraft using international frequencies, but received no response.
Two F-35 Lightning II fighter jets were subsequently launched from HMS Prince of Wales to escort the Russian aircraft away from the task force.
The MoD condemned the incident as “unsafe and unprofessional”, describing the manoeuvres as unnecessary and a potential risk to regional security.
The UK-led Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed near Iceland under NATO command with around 1,500 British service personnel.
The force includes HMS Prince of Wales, the Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, F-35 fighter jets, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters, and the replenishment vessel RFA Tidespring.
The deployment also marks the first occasion NATO has conducted air policing missions from a European aircraft carrier.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis, who visited the flagship over the weekend, said the mission reflects the importance of strengthening NATO’s collective security amid growing global instability.
”We live in an increasingly dangerous and uncertain time, and deployments like this, alongside allies including Iceland, strengthen our deterrence and collective defence,” Jarvis said.
He added that Russia poses challenges across multiple domains, including land, sea, air, space and cyberspace.
The encounter comes only weeks after Royal Marines boarded a suspected Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel.
It also follows recent remarks by Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton, who warned that Moscow has been persistently testing Britain’s military readiness and increasing the risk of escalation.
NATO has previously cautioned that Russia could be in a position to use military force against the alliance by 2030.
The latest incident coincides with the publication of the UK’s updated defence investment strategy, which includes a £15 billion increase in military spending.
The funding package, introduced by outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, will be partly financed through reductions in other areas of government expenditure.
However, opposition politicians and several defence experts argue the planned investment remains insufficient to address the growing security challenges posed by Russia.
Political tensions over defence spending have also intensified following the June resignations of former Defence Secretary John Healey and veterans minister Al Carns, whose departures contributed to Sir Keir Starmer’s eventual exit from office.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said the latest Russian activity highlighted the need for a credible and properly funded defence strategy, arguing that greater priority should be given to military expenditure.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong