Russian Tu-142 Intercepted Near UK Aircraft Carrier in Norwegian Sea
The UK Ministry of Defence said a Russian Tu-142 approached HMS Prince of Wales in the Norwegian Sea and was intercepted by British F-35B jets.
An incident involving a Russian anti-submarine aircraft and the carrier strike group of the UK Royal Navy occurred in the Norwegian Sea. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, on July 2, a Russian Tu-142 aircraft, designated Bear-F by NATO, repeatedly approached the flagship aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales at a distance that London described as unreasonably close.
The UK defence department also stated that the Russian aircraft dropped sonobuoys into the water. Such devices are equipped with acoustic sensors and are used to detect and track submarines. The actions of the Tu-142 were described by the UK Ministry of Defence as unsafe.
After that, two F-35B fighter jets were launched from the deck of HMS Prince of Wales. They intercepted the Russian aircraft and escorted it until it left the area.
At the time of the incident, the British aircraft carrier was taking part in NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission off the coast of Iceland. The carrier group included about 1,500 British service personnel, a destroyer, helicopters and a tanker aircraft.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte condemned the actions of the Russian side and thanked the UK Royal Air Force for intercepting and escorting the Tu-142.
Russia had not issued official comments on the episode at the time of publication. At the same time, the Russian Defence Ministry has repeatedly stated earlier that flights by Russian military aircraft are carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace and do not violate the sovereignty of other states.