British F-35 Jets Intercept Russian Patrol Plane Near Arctic

The British Ministry of Defence reported that two F-35 fighter jets intercepted a Russian patrol aircraft following its repeated approaches to the United Kingdom's carrier strike group during operations in the Arctic last week, according to the German News Agency.

According to the British news agency PA Media, the Ministry stated that the Russian aircraft, identified as a Bear-F model, dropped a series of buoys into the waters near the HMS Prince of Wales carrier on Thursday. The UK Defence Ministry condemned these actions, which took place in the Norwegian Sea, describing them as "unsafe and unprofessional."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence also confirmed that the repeated approaches by the Russian maritime patrol plane occurred while the British carrier strike group was conducting operations in the Norwegian Sea as part of a military exercise named "Firecrest."