According to the BBC, on July 6 local time, the British Ministry of Defence announced that two British fighter jets had intercepted a Russian military aircraft that had approached multiple times over the Norwegian sea, and maintained a close fly-by with the Russian aircraft until it left the area.
The statement mentioned that the incident occurred during the deployment of the British aircraft carrier strike group in the Norwegian Sea.
The British side stated that the Russian maritime patrol aircraft flew low over the British Prince of Wales aircraft carrier several times 'in unnecessary circumstances', and deployed 10 sonar buoys in nearby waters. It is reported that the Russian aircraft did not respond to international aviation safety frequencies.
The British side accused the Russian military of their actions, stating that they were 'both unsafe and unprofessional'.
The statement indicates that subsequently, two British fighter jets launched from the Prince of Wales aircraft carrier intercepted and flew alongside the Russian aircraft until it left the relevant area.
The BBC reported that the British aircraft carrier strike group is currently deployed near Iceland, under NATO command. The fleet consists of the Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, the destroyer Duncan, F-35 fighter jets, and several helicopters.
Reports say this is the first time NATO has carried out air surveillance operations from European aircraft carriers.
British Royal Navy aircraft carrier "Prince of Wales" in an image file. Xinhua News Agency.
As of now, the Russian side has not responded.
This incident has caused panic in the UK. British Defense Secretary Dan Javis said, “We must be aware that threats from Russia exist in various areas, including underwater, on land, in the air, in space, and in cyberspace.”
This is not the first time that the UK and Russia have encountered friction in open waters. Previously, it was reported that a Russian frigate fired warning shots at a yacht flying the British flag in the English Channel on June 16.
Previously, the British Armed Forces intercepted a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker across the English Channel in the early hours of June 14th. The UK Ministry of Defence revealed that this was the first time the UK had led an interception operation against such vessels.
In June this year, British Chief of Defence Staff Richard Neyton told the BBC that Russia has been “testing, challenging, and testing our defenses,” and that it “is increasing its bets and risks, crossing the boundaries.”
NATO has repeatedly warned that Russia may be ready to use force by 2030.
