A Russian Bear-F maritime patrol aircraft conducted a series of close approaches to the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and its accompanying strike group during operations in the Norwegian Sea, prompting Royal Air Force F-35 jets to intercept and escort the plane away. The incident occurred last Thursday amid NATO exercises in the High North near Iceland, where the UK-led carrier strike group is currently deployed.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the Russian Tupolev Tu-142, known by NATO as the Bear-F, flew at low altitude and dropped a significant number of sonobuoys—floating devices equipped with underwater microphones and sonar systems designed to detect and track submarines—within close proximity to the flagship. Efforts to communicate with the Russian crew on international frequencies went unanswered, leading to the deployment of two F-35 jets from HMS Prince of Wales to monitor and escort the aircraft as it exited the operational area.
The strike group aboard HMS Prince of Wales comprises roughly 1,500 personnel and includes the Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan as well as replenishment tanker RFA Tidespring, supported by the carrier’s complement of F-35 jets and Merlin and Wildcat helicopters. The deployment underscores ongoing NATO activity in the North Atlantic and the Arctic regions.
UK officials described the Russian plane’s activity as “unsafe and unprofessional.” The Ministry of Defence noted that while such encounters are not unprecedented, the volume and proximity of the sonobuoys dropped in this instance were unusual. The use of sonobuoys is a recognized method for maritime patrol aircraft to conduct undersea surveillance, particularly aimed at locating submarines operating in contested waters.
This event adds to a series of recent incidents highlighting heightened tensions between the UK and Russia. In recent weeks, UK forces have engaged in boarding operations on a Russian-flagged oil tanker and witnessed aggressive maneuvers by Russian naval vessels near European waters. Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton warned in June that Russian military actions reflect increased probing and testing of Western defenses, raising concerns about potential escalations reminiscent of Cold War-era confrontations.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis, who recently visited personnel aboard HMS Prince of Wales, emphasized the widespread nature of the threat posed by Russia, extending across multiple domains including undersea, surface, air, space, and cyberspace. Conservative politicians have called for increased defense funding to address these challenges, with Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge urging government support for the armed forces.
The Russian Tupolev Tu-142 is a naval reconnaissance aircraft derived from the Tu-95 nuclear bomber, capable of carrying a range of weapons including depth charges, torpedoes, and anti-ship missiles. Analysts suggest the sonobuoy deployment may have been an attempt to gather intelligence on NATO submarine movements during the exercises, at a time when UK Astute-class submarines are reportedly tied up in port for maintenance, with allied nations having contributed submarines to recent exercises in the region.