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A Russian Tu-142 Bear-F maritime patrol aircraft flew close to the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in the Norwegian Sea, dropping multiple sonobuoys while failing to respond to radio calls. F-35Bs from the carrier intercepted and escorted the aircraft until it disengaged. 

While operating in the high north on Jul. 2, 2026, during Operation Firecrest, the Royal Navy’s flagship drew the attention of a Tu-142MK (NATO reporting name Bear Foxtrot) maritime patrol aircraft from the Russian Navy’s air arm.

Two F-35B Lightning jets from the aircraft carrier intercepted and escorted the Bear-F until it departed the area. The Russian crew failed to engage with calls on international radio frequencies while flying close to the Royal Navy-led task group, dropping ‘tens’ of sonobuoys as it did so. Images show this action continued even while the British jets were flying alongside the aircraft. 

Official comment from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) labelled the Tu-142’s actions as “unsafe and unprofessional”.

While operating in the Norwegian Sea on Operation FIRECREST, the UK’s Carrier Strike Group was approached repeatedly by a Russian ‘Bear-F’ maritime patrol aircraft.

The aircraft flew unnecessarily close to HMS Prince of Wales, dropped multiple sonobuoys nearby, and failed to… pic.twitter.com/LLPgwo2VXA

— Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) July 6, 2026

Monitoring of NATO operations by Russian air, surface, and sub-surface assets in this region is far from uncommon, though the proximity of the flyby and the active deployment of sonobuoys in this instance indicated a more aggressive posture than is usual. 

Sonobuoys, equipped with hydrophones, are used to listen to underwater sounds and are usually used in an attempt to locate submarines. However, these hydrophones could also be used to collect intelligence on the acoustic profiles of NATO warships, which would provide valuable data for Russia’s submarine fleet.

The Tu-142, and escorting F-35B, seen from HMS Prince of Wales. | Source: PO Phot Chris Sellars/Crown Copyright 2026

While, for obvious reasons, no comment has been made about what happened to these sonobuoys after the Russian aircraft left the area, it would not be surprising if at least a number were later collected by NATO forces both to remove the threat and to inspect the devices and learn about their capabilities – and whether they have changed compared to other previously captured sonobuoys. 

The incident was first covered by Politico, reporting from on board the aircraft carrier. Also on board was the new UK Secretary of State for Defence, Dan Jarvis. 

EXCLUSIVE: Britain intercepted two Russian planes last week after moving an aircraft carrier to the Arctic Circle to support NATO missions.https://t.co/bB1xvCqSgV

— POLITICOEurope (@POLITICOEurope) July 6, 2026

The Defence Secretary joined the crew of the flagship to make the announcement that the carrier’s F-35Bs have been assigned to NATO’s Air Policing duties, the first time they have taken on this mission while deployed on board a ship. This came only hours before news of the Russian aircraft’s activities broke. 

“It was an honour to visit our deployed personnel who are conducting operations that help keep our nation and our allies safe. We live in an increasingly dangerous and uncertain time, and it’s deployments like this, supported by allies and partners including Iceland, that improve our deterrence and defence as part of NATO,” Jarvis said. 

Jarvis said it was “mission critical” to deliver the funding pathway to its NATO commitment at the next spending review “as early as possible.”

He confirmed that Britain has now hit one of it’s two NATO pledges (to spend 1.5% of GDP on security-related resilience.)

— Mason Boycott-Owen (@Masonboyowen) July 6, 2026

For air defence sorties, UK F-35Bs can carry AIM-120 AMRAAM radar-guided missiles internally and the AIM-132 ASRAAM infrared-guided missile on external pylons, where other air arms often field AIM-9X Sidewinders. 

F-35B fighters launching from HMS Prince of Wales to intercept a Russian military aircraft. | Source: PO Phot Chris Sellars/Crown Copyright

The Tu-142, serial RF-34059, carries the name Yuriy Malinin in cyrillic text. It is part of a small but important fleet, providing a role in Russia’s arsenal roughly analogous to NATO’s P-8 Poseidons, P-3 Orions, and Breguet Atlantique 2s. A recent attack by Ukraine on Taganrog airfield destroyed at least one Tu-142 sub hunter, as well as a specialist Tu-142MR Bear-J variant used to communicate with submarines. 

Historically, the Tu-142 was also operated by India, but these were withdrawn in 2017 and India now operates a P-8 variant known as the P-8I Neptune. 

Operation Firecrest

HMS Prince of Wales began Operation Firecrest in May 2026, escorted by Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and replenishment vessel RFA Tidespring. Initial exercises saw the carrier lead a defence against swarm attacks by simulated missiles and fast attack craft during Exercise Tamber Shield. Conducted in the fjords of Norway, the exercise brought together Martlet-armed Wildcat HMA2 helicopters and the growing expertise of the Royal Navy’s specialist drone unit, 700X Naval Air Squadron. 

Attention was then turned to the underwater domain during the annual Exercise Dynamic Mongoose. The aircraft carrier joined with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) to gain real world experience hunting submarines, a role played by ultra-quiet diesel-electric submarines from Germany, Norway, and Portugal.

We see you. HMS Prince of Wales is participating in Exercise Dynamic Mongoose with Standing NATO Maritime Group One. pic.twitter.com/sUsHVBDfQ2

— HMS Prince of Wales (@HMSPWLS) May 22, 2026

While the F-35Bs are the signature aircraft operated by the Prince of Wales, the ship is also home to Merlin HM2 helicopters. Designed as specialised anti-submarine (ASW) warfare aircraft, the Merlin HM2 can use sonobuoys and/or a dipping sonar to locate and identify submarine threats.

A Merlin HM2 is loaded up with sonobuoys on board HMS Prince of Wales. | Source: PO Phot Chris Sellars/Crown Copyright 2026

It can operate in tandem with a warship or as an independent capability, and, if necessary, the Merlin can engage detected submarines with Sting Ray torpedos.