A Russian Tu-142 Bear-F maritime patrol aircraft flew close to the HMS Prince of Wales in the Norwegian Sea, dropping multiple sonobuoys. The incident occurred on July 2 and was intercepted by British F-35B fighters. The Tu-142's actions were deemed 'unsafe and unprofessional' by the UK Ministry of Defense.
The sonobuoys were dropped in close proximity to the carrier, with at least one captured on camera. The British forces attempted to contact the Russian aircraft, but it did not respond.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and NATO, with UK officials stressing the need for increased military spending to deter Russian aggression. The encounter serves as another reminder of the increasingly aggressive posture Russia is adopting around NATO's northern flank.
