UK fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian aircraft after it came “unnecessarily close” to Britain’s flagship carrier in Arctic.
A Russian ‘Bear F’ aircraft dropped a “large number” of tracking devices near the HMS Prince of Wales in the Arctic Circle, the Ministry of Defence said.
The MoD warned the activity of the Russian maritime patrol aircraft was “unsafe and unprofessional”, and said it was intercepted and escorted by two UK F-35 jets until it left the area.
“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,” An MoD spokesperson said.
“The Bear-F passed at low altitude and unnecessarily close to HMS Prince of Wales and dropped a large number of sonobuoys in close proximity to the carrier.
“This activity was unsafe and unprofessional. The Russian aircraft was intercepted and escorted by two UK F-35 jets from HMS Prince of Wales until it left the area.”
Sonobuoys are commonly used as undersea surveillance, which detect, track and deter submarines and other underwater vessels.
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