UK Fighters Intercept Russian Aircraft Near Carrier in Norwegian Sea Amid NATO Deployment]
A Russian patrol aircraft carried out unsafe maneuvers near the UK’s flagship aircraft carrier while it was conducting NATO air defence operations in the waters off Iceland, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday.
The Bear-F plane repeatedly approached the carrier group led by HMS Prince of Wales in the Norwegian Sea, passing uncomfortably close at low altitude and deploying multiple sonar devices, according to the ministry.
A ministry spokesperson described Thursday’s incident in the High North as “unsafe and unprofessional.”
The incident occurred as Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis and Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir visited HMS Prince of Wales over the weekend. The carrier is leading a NATO mission to strengthen defences in the North Atlantic against what the ministry described as increasing Russian threats.
The deployment marks the first time F-35 jets have conducted NATO air defence operations from a European aircraft carrier, coming amid heightened tensions with Moscow. Military experts warn Russia has escalated its “hybrid war” tactics in the strategically important region.
“We operate in an increasingly dangerous and uncertain world, and missions like this—underpinned by allied support including Iceland’s—enhance our deterrence and defence within NATO,” Jarvis stated.
Gunnarsdottir emphasized that the deployment demonstrates NATO’s “enhanced presence in this strategically vital region.”
Jarvis assumed the defence role less than a month ago following his predecessor John Healey’s resignation, which stemmed from disagreements over adequate funding for the 10-year Defence Investment Plan. Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently unveiled a £300 billion defence spending proposal over four years, including an additional £15 billion by 2030—the year UK intelligence assessments indicate Russia could target a NATO member.
The proposal falls significantly short of the reportedly requested £28 billion allocation.
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