UK jets scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft near Britain’s flagship carrier in Arctic
UK warplanes have moved to intercept a Russian plane that was “unnecessarily” approaching Britain’s flagship ship in the Arctic Circle.
A Russian ‘Bear F’ aircraft “repeatedly approached” the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and then dropped “numerous” tracking devices into the nearby water, the Ministry of Defense has revealed.
The Ministry of Defense described the activities of the Russian maritime patrol aircraft as “unsafe and unprofessional”. The statement stated that the plane was stopped by two British F-35 jets and escorted until it left the area.
“While operating in the Norwegian Sea during Operation Firecrest, the UK’s Carrier Strike Group was repeatedly approached by a Russian ‘Bear-F’ maritime patrol aircraft,” an MoD spokesman said.
“Bear-F passed at low altitude and unduly close to HMS Prince of Wales, dropping a number of sonobuoys close to the carrier.
“This activity was unsafe and unprofessional. The Russian aircraft was intercepted and escorted by two British F-35 jets from HMS Prince of Wales until it left the area.”
The Bear-F aircraft, which could be used as a reconnaissance or bomber plane, is thought to have dropped dozens of sonobuoys into the waters near the Prince of Wales.
Sonobuoys are widely used as undersea surveillance, detecting, tracking and deterring submarines and other underwater vessels.
HMS Prince of Wales is the Royal Navy’s largest warship and has been leading the Carrier Strike Group’s operations in the North Atlantic and Northern North since its launch earlier this year.
The Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed under NATO command off the coast of Iceland and has 1,500 British personnel on board.
The group consists of HMS Prince of Wales, Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, F-35 jets, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters and is supported by RFA Tidespring.
British forces attempted to contact the Russian aircraft on international frequencies, but the aircraft did not respond.
Two F-35 jets then flew from Prince of Wales to distract the Bear-F from the Carrier Strike Group.
Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis visited UK forces aboard the flagship HMS Prince of Wales at the weekend.
He told Channel 4 News: “We must be vigilant that the threat from Russia exists in every domain, including underwater, on water, on land, in the sky, in space and in cyberspace.”
Mr Jarvis said “some of what the Americans have been saying lately is absolutely true” and that “Europe needs to step up”.
He also stressed that Andy Burnham, who is almost certain to become the next prime minister, “understands the importance of defending our nation” and will make sure “we have the resources we need to keep the country safe”.
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