Fighter jets intercept Russian plane ‘harassing’ warship

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 7, 2026

A Russian Bear-F maritime patrol aircraft flew multiple close passes near the UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in the Norwegian Sea, deploying numerous sonobuoys and prompting British F-35 fighters to intercept it. This risky encounter highlights escalating military tensions in the High North as NATO forces continue their operations amid growing geopolitical friction.

A Russian maritime patrol aircraft conducted multiple close-range passes near the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales while it operated in the Norwegian Sea under NATO command, prompting a response by British fighter jets. The incident occurred on Thursday last week as part of the carrier strike group’s deployment in the High North alongside allied forces.

The Russian plane, identified as a Bear-F, approached the British warship repeatedly in what the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) described as “unsafe and unprofessional” behaviour. Photographs released by UK authorities show the Bear-F flying at low altitude and in close proximity to the £3.2 billion carrier. During the encounter, the Russian aircraft dropped dozens of sonobuoys—small devices deployed in the water to detect and track submarines—around the Prince of Wales. The MoD stated that these were released “in close proximity to the carrier,” with some trackers reportedly dropped directly in front of the vessel.

British personnel attempted to establish communication with the Russian crew over international radio frequencies to warn of the dangers posed by such close manoeuvres during live operations, but these efforts were ignored. A defence source described the Russian activity as “harassment.” In response, two F-35 fighter jets from 809 Naval Air Squadron, based on the Prince of Wales, were scrambled to intercept and shadow the Bear-F until it moved away from the area.

While sonobuoys have been dropped near UK carrier strike groups in the past, sources noted that the volume deployed on this occasion was unusually high and the devices were released particularly close to the warship. It remains unclear whether the sonobuoys were detected or neutralised by UK or NATO forces.

An MoD spokesperson condemned the Russian aircraft’s actions, stating, “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.” The Royal Navy’s ongoing operations in the High North reflect heightened maritime activity in the region amid increasing geopolitical tensions.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.