Key facts
- A British F-35B fighter jet intercepted two Russian Tupolev Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
- The incident occurred west of Norway on July 2, 2026.
- The Russian aircraft approached the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier in an "unsafe and unprofessional" maneuver.
- The Russian planes dropped sonobuoys near the carrier.
- Britain has assumed command of NATO's special forces unit, described as "the spearhead" of rapid deployment teams.
- The HMS Prince of Wales is the first European aircraft carrier conducting NATO air defense operations with F-35 jets.
Britain intercepted two Russian aircraft in the Norwegian Sea after deploying one of its aircraft carriers to the Arctic Circle as part of an expanded NATO mission. The Ministry of Defence reported that two Russian "Bear F" maritime patrol aircraft repeatedly approached the U.K.'s HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier in an "unsafe and unprofessional" maneuver late last week, dropping a large number of sonobuoys in close proximity.
British F-35 jets launched from the carrier intercepted and escorted the Russian planes on July 2. The HMS Prince of Wales is the first European aircraft carrier to conduct NATO air defense operations using F-35 jets. This deployment coincides with Britain taking command of NATO's special forces unit, designated as "the spearhead" of the alliance's rapid deployment teams, capable of global deployment within days.
Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis commented on the increased activity, noting that the movement of Russian President Vladimir Putin's superyacht traversing the coast of Norway could be considered a "combat indicator" suggesting Putin is under pressure.