Jets scrambled to intercept Russian plane ‘dropping devices’ near UK flagship carrier

It ‘repeatedly approached’ the HMS Prince of Wales

Prior to dropping a “large number” of tracking devices into the water, a Russian “Bear F” aircraft “repeatedly approached” the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, according to reports.

The Ministry of Defence said that the activity of the Russian maritime patrol aircraft was “unsafe and unprofessional”, adding that it was intercepted and escorted by two RAF F-35 jets until it left the area.

A spokesperson for the MoD said: “While operating in the Norwegian Sea on Operation Firecrest, the UK’s carrier strike group was repeatedly approached by a Russian ‘Bear-F’ maritime patrol aircraft”.

“The Bear-F passed at low altitude and unnecessarily close to HMS Prince of Wales and dropped a large number of sonobuoys in close proximity to the carrier.”

“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.”

A large number of sonobuoys were dropped close

While this was not the first time that sonobuoys have been dropped near a UK carrier strike group, reportedly it was a particularly large number and dropped especially close.

According to reports, this Russian plane, which can be used for reconnaissance or as a bomber, dropped tens of sonobuoys into the waters near the Prince of Wales.

Meanwhile, sonobuoys are commonly used as undersea surveillance, which detect, track and deter submarines and other underwater vessels.

The Royal Navy’s largest warship is HMS Prince of Wales and since it was launched earlier this year, it has led the carrier strike group in its operation in the North Atlantic and High North.

At present, the group is deployed off Iceland under Nato command, with 1,500 British personnel on board.

Part of the group are HMS Prince of Wales, Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, F-35 jets, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters, and is supported by RFA Tidespring.

The Russian plane did not respond at all to the British forces’ attempts for contact on international frequencies.

Following that, two F-35 jets then flew from the Prince of Wales to escort the Bear-F away from the carrier strike group.

'Russian threat exists everywhere and Europe needs to step up'

Over the weekend, the UK forces were visited by Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis on board the flagship HMS Prince of Wales.

“We should be clear-eyed about the fact that the threat from Russia exists in every domain, under the water, on the water, on the land, in the sky, in space and in cyberspace as well”, Jarvis told Channel 4 News.

He added that “some of what the Americans have said in recent times is absolutely right”, and “Europe does need to step up”.

Meanwhile, Jarvis said that Andy Burnham, who is all but guaranteed to be the next prime minister, “understands the importance of defending our nation” and will make sure “we’ve got the resources we need to keep the country safe”.