British F-35 fighter jets were sent up from HMS Prince of Wales after a Russian patrol aircraft repeatedly flew close to the UK carrier group in the Norwegian Sea, Britain’s defence ministry said Monday.
The ministry said the Bear-F aircraft approached the carrier group last Thursday, passed the flagship “unnecessarily close” at low altitude and dropped several sonar devices nearby. Two UK F-35s intercepted the aircraft and escorted it until it left the area, officials said.
“This activity was unsafe and unprofessional,” a ministry spokesperson said.
The incident took place as the Royal Navy carrier group was operating off Iceland as part of NATO air defence activity in the High North, a region where Russia, Britain and other alliance members have stepped up military patrols.
The ministry said the deployment marked the first time F-35 jets had conducted NATO air defence operations from a European aircraft carrier. HMS Prince of Wales is leading the group on a mission Britain described as defending the North Atlantic against Russian threats.
The disclosure came after Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis and Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir visited the carrier over the weekend.
“We live in an increasingly dangerous and uncertain time and it’s deployments like this, supported by allies and partners including Iceland, that improve our deterrence and defence as part of NATO,” Jarvis said in a statement.
Gunnarsdottir called the deployment “a clear demonstration of NATO’s enhanced presence in this strategically important region.”
The episode also lands during a tense defence debate in London. Jarvis took office less than a month ago after John Healey quit, accusing the government of failing to commit enough money to protect Britain.
Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week set out plans to spend almost £300 billion over four years, including an extra £15 billion for defence by 2030. The defence ministry had reportedly requested more.
