The Russian Il-38N medium-range anti-submarine aircraft, as well as a warship (name not specified), "escorted" a group of ships led by the nuclear aircraft carrier "Gerald R. Ford" of the US Navy. This was reported by Defensa, citing a statement from the Norwegian Ministry of Defense.
The incident occurred in the Arctic waters off the coast of Norway. It was confirmed by the leadership of the Norwegian Armed Forces.
According to the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, the Il-38N flew at low altitude and "followed" NATO ships in the Barents Sea. According to USNI News, the aircraft carrier group included destroyers USS Mahan (DDG-72) and USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), auxiliary cargo ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12), as well as Royal Norwegian Navy ships HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl (F314) and fleet tanker HNoMS Maud (A530). The defense department published a photo of the Russian aircraft.
Defensa recalled that this is not the first "surveillance" by Russian aircraft. In October 2023, the Il-38 accompanied the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth II of the British Royal Navy.
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