Amid an Iceland trip, Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis has raised concerns about growing Russian threats, following an incident involving a Kremlin warplane buzzing the Royal Navy’s flagship. Jarvis visited the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in Iceland to support NATO efforts against the increasing Kremlin presence in the area.
Recently, a Russian Bear-F warplane approached the carrier multiple times, dropping sonobuoys used for submarine tracking dangerously close to the warship. The situation was defused when F-35B fighter jets from the Prince of Wales escorted the Russian aircraft away.
Sources revealed that the Russian plane released numerous sonobuoys, designed for submarine surveillance, in close proximity to the Prince of Wales, posing a potential threat. The aircraft carrier’s F35B jets are engaged in NATO air defense missions in response to Russia’s heightened interest in the region.
Jarvis emphasized the multi-domain threat posed by Russia and stressed the need for increased defense spending by European nations. He highlighted the commitment to allocate 3.5% of GDP to defense by 2035. Jarvis praised Andy Burnham’s understanding of national defense and ensuring adequate resources for security.
Over 1,500 British personnel are deployed in the North Atlantic as part of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG), which includes HMS Prince of Wales, Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, and RFA Tidespring. Jarvis emphasized the importance of such deployments in enhancing deterrence and defense, supported by allies like Iceland.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the unsafe approach of a Russian Bear F aircraft towards the UK’s carrier strike group in the Norwegian Sea, dropping sonobuoys in close proximity to the HMS Prince of Wales. Sonobuoys are used for underwater detection, primarily in anti-submarine warfare.
The MoD also mentioned the upcoming role of HMS Queen Elizabeth as the force’s headquarters, with a recent refit completed in Scotland. The visit was further supported by Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, who commended the UK Carrier Strike Group’s presence in the region as a demonstration of NATO’s enhanced deterrence capabilities.