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UK scrambles jets as Russian warplanes head towards HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier

British planes have intercepted two Russian jets after they barrelled towards the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier last week, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed

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F35b Lightning Jets intercepted the Russian warplanes(Image: LPhot Helayna Birkett/Royal Navy / SWNS)

The UK has intercepted two Russian planes over the Norwegian Sea after they "repeatedly approached" the HMS Princes of Wales aircraft carrier.

The Ministry of Defence [MoD] said on Monday that two 'Bear F' maritime patrol aircraft had repeatedly approached the UKs carrier strike group in the Norwegian sea last week. The MoD added that the Russian-flagged jets engaged in an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre during the aerial standoff. As per the MoD, the pair of Russian planes dropped numerous sonobuoys not far from the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier. Sonobuoys are devices that effectively act as underwater microphones and assist in the locating and tracking of submarines. The Russian planes were intercepted and then escorted away from the carrier vessel by a number of British F-35 jets on July 2.

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HMS Prince of Wales(Image: LPhot May Luke/MoD Crown Copyright/PA Wire)

The move by Russia comes as the UK takes command of NATO's special forces unit, which has been described by the MoD as the spearhead of the defensive alliance's rapid deployment teams which are able to deploy anywhere in the world within days",

The tense moment between the UK and Russia comes as Russian president Vladimir Putin also is reported to be in the Arctic Circle, traversing the coast of Norway in his 100 million super yacht as he makes his way back to Russia.

Secretary of Defence Dan Jarvis declined to confirm to POLITICO whether the HMS Prince of Wales was tracking the Kremlin head's vessel. He did concede, however: We know where it is.

The fact that theres the movement of the yacht, again is another combat indicator to use an expression from my past that he [Putin] is increasingly under pressure," he added.

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