Earlier in the deployment Russian jets were being intercepted almost every day and now that the Strike Group is back in the Mediterranean Sea it’s happening again.

In fact, it was reported that F-35 jets from HMS Queen Elizabeth intercepted Russian jets in the eastern Mediterranean more than 30 times as part of the Carrier Strike Group. Now that the vessels have returned to the region after sailing to the Pacific and back it appears Russian interest has been renewed.

Speaking to Deborah Haynes of Sky News, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that Russia had shown a renewed interest in HMS Queen Elizabeth and its F-35 jets as they headed home through the Mediterranean.

“It is not a secret the Russians have been very interested in the carrier group both on the way out from the United Kingdom – as she’s sailed and her group towards the Pacific – and now she is back in the Mediterranean,” Mr Wallace said.

You can read more from Sky News here.

HMS Queen Elizabeth recently made history for the first time that three nations have flown jets from the same aircraft carrier with British, American and Italian F-35B jets taking off from the ship.

F-35B Lightning jets from the Italian carrier Cavour have landed, refuelled, and relaunched from HMS Queen Elizabeth.

First time in history three nations jets launch from one ship

HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently in the Mediterranean following months in the Indo-Pacific region as part of her global deployment. As she heads west back to the UK, the ship has continued her busy programme of working with allied nations and partners, say the Royal Navy.

The Royal Navy say that this is the third nation that has landed jets on the carrier.

“On completion of the refuelling, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH launched an Italian Navy F-35, Italian Air Force F-35, USMC F-35 and finally an F-35B from the UK 617 squadron. The jets then operated in the skies above the two carriers developing their interoperability and mutual understanding of procedures. HMS Queen Elizabeth is the deployed flagship for Carrier Strike Group 21(CSG21). CSG21 will see the ship along with the Strike Group work with over 40 countries from around the world. The Strike Group will operate and exercise with other Countries Navies and Air Forces during the 7-month deployment.”

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Jason
Jason
2 years ago

This is not a bad thing really. Let them buzz as much as they want it is all very helpful in providing training to the task force having a ‘real’ enemy flying sorties over them. A good way to keep them on their toes I should think.

DRS
DRS
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason

Yes nice training for both sides I guess Russia and us. 🙂 Better than a hawk in the aggressor role 🙂

Gary Rawlings
Gary Rawlings
2 years ago
Reply to  DRS

I was there when they shut tuckers finger in the tank door

andy reeves
andy reeves
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason

childish andpointless. just like the childish games the spaniards play aroung gibraltar

C Mullin
C Mullin
2 years ago
Reply to  Jason

And useful intelligence gathering opportunities for the Russians, too. They’ll be taking a good hard look at the ships and aircraft.

Lusty
Lusty
2 years ago

One must say that it’s nice to see the Russians have won the private contract to replace the Hawks.

…it’s not even Friday, Daniele. 😂

Steve R
Steve R
2 years ago
Reply to  Lusty

Free of charge, too. How very nice of them!

Phylyp
Phylyp
2 years ago
Reply to  Lusty

Good one, Lusty!

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Lusty

It’s not, I mentioned that just a mo a go over on the F35 submersible thread!

Lusty
Lusty
2 years ago

😂

Jonathan
Jonathan
2 years ago
Reply to  Lusty

I bet they send the bill to the MOD for services rendered.

Nicholas Bassett
Nicholas Bassett
2 years ago
Reply to  Lusty

You mean Thursday?!

Lusty
Lusty
2 years ago

No, Friday!

If you know you know. 😉

Meirion x
Meirion x
2 years ago

The article mentions the Italian Air Force(AMI) operating F-35’s, on the QE, but out of 17 deliveries of F-35’s to AMI, none are B’s, yet, only the Italian Navy(ANI) has received 5 F-35B’s, according to the F-35 database.
Is this an error in the article?

SwindonSteve
SwindonSteve
2 years ago
Reply to  Meirion x

Someone said on the other article that the ‘B’ buy is being split between the Italian Air Force and the Italian Navy. All of the ‘A’ buy is going to the Air Force.

Last edited 2 years ago by SwindonSteve
Joe16
Joe16
2 years ago
Reply to  Meirion x

If they’ve not yet received any -Bs for the air force, maybe the Navy has leant them one to be flown by and air force pilot?

Jonathan
Jonathan
2 years ago
Reply to  Meirion x

Hi Meiron, the F35Bs are being split 50/50 between the navy and airforce ( 15 each by the end of the procurement).

Leonardo
Leonardo
2 years ago
Reply to  Meirion x

You can see in some of the images the “A M” – for ‘Aeronautica Militare’ painted on the inside of the lift fan cover of the Italian F-35.

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins
2 years ago

After losing one aircraft, I wonder if Russia is employing the same tactics like China to test the reliability of the F-35? “The JASDF’s fleet of some 215 F-15J aircraft bears the brunt of scramble tasking,” he wrote. “Since 2016, the JASDF have often launched four aircraft for each scramble. “These daily scrambles are gradually wearing the F-15J fleet out. The concern is that China has some six times more fighters then the JASDF, and could further ramp up intrusions whenever it considers appropriate. The in-service life of Japan’s F-15J fleet is now almost a decision that lies with China,”… Read more »

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins
2 years ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

China, Russia conduct joint air patrol over Sea of Japan22 NOVEMBER 2021

“China has flown two H-6K strategic bombers (pictured at Airshow China 2018) in a joint patrol with Russian Tu-95 aircraft over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.”

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/terror-insurgent-group/latest/china-russia-conduct-joint-air-patrol-over-sea-of-japan

Last edited 2 years ago by Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins
2 years ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

“A J-10C multirole fighter aircraft on display at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition 2021. The 25th Air Brigade with the PLA’s ETC has been identified as operating the WS10-powered J-10C variant as of November 2021.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF’s) 25th Air Brigade, part of the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command (ETC), is replacing its legacy Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group J-7E fighters with J-10C multirole fighter aircraft fitted with locally made Shenyang-Liming WS10 ‘Taihang’-series engines.”

Last edited 2 years ago by Nigel Collins
ChariotRider
ChariotRider
2 years ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

Looks like an F-16 with a Typhoon front end…

Cheers CR

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins
2 years ago
Reply to  ChariotRider

Very much so, especially the front end!

ChariotRider
ChariotRider
2 years ago
Reply to  Nigel Collins

Hi Nigel

Just been doing some reading on this aircraft and there were suggestions that the IAI helped out with the J-10. These claims were based on the uncanny resemblance of the J-10 to the IAI Lavi, itself having similarities to the F16…

Cheers CR

Nigel Collins
Nigel Collins
2 years ago
Reply to  ChariotRider

Spot on!

Andrew
Andrew
2 years ago

Is there anything to stop the navy having a type 45 lock missiles on the Russian aircraft without firing them?

Other than common sense.

Daveyb
Daveyb
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

Yes, though with Aster you don’t need a constant lock on an aircraft, as you do with semi-active homing or some of the earlier active radar guided missiles. By looking on to an aircraft you are signalling intent to fire. The pilot of the locked on aircraft will try everything to break the lock, as they won’t know if a missile has been fired at them, until it gets close enough for the missile approach warning system to spot it, or they are lucky enough to visually spot it approaching. If they have an anti-ship missile, they may even fire… Read more »

Phylyp
Phylyp
2 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

It’s an *incredibly* hostile act. Consider it in terms of a rifle or a gun – only point it at something you intend to actually shoot. Conversely, the act of you pointing a gun at someone makes it reasonable for the opposing party to act in self defence and shoot you back. Locking onto a jet to “threaten” them is a risky step as well, because mistakes happen, especially under stress. Mistakes like USS Vincennes shooting down a passenger jet, a Russian interceptor mistakenly shooting down a Japanese (or Korean) passenger jet have happened in the past. Technology will not… Read more »

Gavin Gordon
Gavin Gordon
2 years ago
Reply to  Phylyp

Same goes for skateboards – or bananas, if you’re Monty Python.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Phylyp

Agreed.

On KAL007 it was even worse than that, the shoot down was no mistake.

Tommo
Tommo
2 years ago

Send any video footage to Greta let her deal with Mr Putin about Jet after burners increasing Gobal warming , But thanks for the free Air Ex Comrade now we are awry of the Capabilites alas not under return fire

chris stocken
chris stocken
2 years ago

Cheaper than paying for an Agreser squadron😂

andy reeves
andy reeves
2 years ago

it WILL happen at some time these childish sabre rattling antics of the russian forces that an accident occurs russia of all nations should have realiesed by not that its a waste of time and that western nations will at some time call their bluff, thats when things could really turn nasty the u.k csg needs to be on top of its game. when this russian stupidity happens

Tommo
Tommo
2 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

During the Cold War, the Russians used too play a stupid game of Chicken ,with their Surface vessels in the North Atlantic , there was a couple of near misses Bow crossing bloody stupidity

Frederick Ferro
Frederick Ferro
2 years ago
Reply to  andy reeves

I spend 22 years in the US Navy from 1972 to 1994. And sailed on Aircraft Carriers as Flight Deck Crew. It has never stooped. And how we or any allied has not had a mishap is a statement of the professionalism of the US, UK, and all allied forces.

Reg Ball
Reg Ball
2 years ago

The closer the Ruskies fly to the Task Group, the more intelligence we are obtaining from them. It’s a E edge sword

David Wright
David Wright
2 years ago

All fun and games till a mistake is made.

Frank
Frank
2 years ago

This is just cat and mouse games,good for training on both sides, been this way since vietnam. The real threat is China!