- The MoD said it was about the interception of two Russian F-35 jets by the aircraft carrier strike group in the Norwegian Sea.
- According to the MoD, “Bear-F” flew at a low altitude close to the aircraft; BBC reports that it is about 10 aircraft.
- The MoD said that the incident was not risk-free; two F-35 jets approached the aircraft carrier strike group, and the area was “unsafe and unprofessional.”
British officials say two Russian F-35 jets were intercepted over the Norwegian Sea, after which, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the incident was not risk-free and the Russian aircraft were forced to leave the area.
The MoD said that the Russian aircraft type “Bear-F” flew at a low altitude “dangerously close” to the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which was conducting exercises in the area. The MoD also said that the aircraft were flying in such a way that they posed a threat to the safety of the ship and its crew.
MoD said that the actions of Moscow in the Norwegian Sea were “unsafe and unprofessional” (dangerous and unprofessional). According to the MoD, the British aircraft were involved in a joint operation Firecrest in the Norwegian Sea.
After two F-35 jets from HMS Prince of Wales intercepted the “Bear-F” aircraft, the Russian aircraft left the area. The MoD also said that British forces were carrying out operations as part of Operation Firecrest in the Norwegian Sea when the “Bear-F” aircraft passed low and “dangerously close” to HMS Prince of Wales, and also that a “large number” (how many) of aircraft were involved.
According to BBC, the Carrier Strike Group was accompanied by an entire NATO detachment and had about 1,500 British military personnel. During the visit to HMS Prince of Wales, there were the German Type 45 HMS Duncan, F-35, and also the Merlin and Wildcat; the group also included the RFA Tidespring tanker.