Royal Navy Intercepts Russian Patrol Aircraft in Norwegian Sea

Two Royal Navy F-35B Lightning II fighters intercepted a Russian Tu-142 Bear F Maritime Patrol Aircraft over the Norwegian Sea after it repeatedly approached aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09), the U.K Ministry of Defence announced Monday. “The aircraft flew unnecessarily close to HMS Prince of Wales, dropped multiple sonobuoys nearby, and failed to respond on international safety frequencies. This activity was unsafe and unprofessional,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement shared to its official X account. On Thursday, two embarked F-35Bs intercepted and escorted the Tu-142 until it left the area. The U.K. Carrier Strike Group