Two UK F-35B Lightning II jets launched from HMS Prince of Wales intercepted and escorted a Russian Tu-142 Bear-F away from the Carrier Strike Group in the Norwegian Sea on 2 July 2026. The Bear-F executed repeated, unsafe low-altitude approaches and deployed 10 sonobuoys to detect NATO submarines, actions the MoD deemed unprofessional. British forces attempted international communication but received no response before dispatching the fighters. This marks the first confirmed interception of a Bear-F by UK carrier-based F-35s in this operational context, demonstrating immediate air defense readiness. The incident underscores the Norwegian Sea’s strategic role in NATO submarine surveillance and highlights persistent tensions between NATO and Russia in Arctic maritime zones.