British Jets Intercept Russian Aircraft Dropping Sonobuoys Near NATO Carrier

British fighter jets intercepted a Russian Bear-F maritime patrol aircraft over the Norwegian Sea on Thursday. The Russian plane dropped several sonobuoys at low altitude near the British aircraft carrier Prince of Wales, which was participating in a NATO mission. The UK Ministry of Defence described the actions as "dangerous and unprofessional."

The incident took place on July 2nd while the Prince of Wales, part of a carrier strike group, was operating in the North Atlantic as part of NATO's Operation Firecrest. The Bear-F, a Russian maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, repeatedly approached the carrier group before dropping the sonobuoys in close proximity to the Prince of Wales.

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The Bear-F passed at low altitude and inexplicably close to the aircraft carrier Prince of Wales and dropped several sonobuoys at very close range to the ship.

Following the encounter, the two British F-35 fighter jets escorted the Russian aircraft until it left the area. Sonobuoys are devices used to detect submarines. The encounter highlights the increased tensions and frequent military interactions between Russia and NATO in the northern regions since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

NATO has significantly enhanced its presence and surveillance in the North Atlantic and Arctic. In February, the alliance launched Operation Arctic Sentry to bolster security in the region. Russian aircraft and vessels are frequently observed in these areas, leading to regular intercepts by NATO forces. In March, Norwegian fighter jets were repeatedly scrambled to identify Russian aircraft during a NATO exercise in Northern Norway.

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dangerous and unprofessional