Britain accused a Russian military patrol aircraft of acting "unsafe and unprofessional" after it repeatedly approached the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier during NATO air defense operations in the Norwegian Sea, CBS News reported Monday.

The U.K.'s Defense Ministry said a Russian Tu-142 Bear-F maritime patrol aircraft made several low-altitude passes near the HMS Prince of Wales carrier strike group on Thursday as the task force operated in the High North near Iceland.

According to the ministry statement, the aircraft flew "unnecessarily close" to the carrier and dropped sonar buoys in the vicinity of the strike group.

The Royal Navy responded by launching two F-35 fighter jets from the HMS Prince of Wales, which intercepted the Russian aircraft and escorted it until it left the area.

"This activity was unsafe and unprofessional," a Defense Ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

The incident occurred as the British-led carrier strike group continues a NATO deployment focused on strengthening air defense and maritime security across the North Atlantic amid heightened tensions with Russia.

The ministry said the deployment marks the first time F-35 fighter aircraft have conducted NATO air defense operations from a European aircraft carrier.

The British government said Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis and Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir visited the HMS Prince of Wales over the weekend during the deployment.

The carrier strike group is leading operations aimed at defending the North Atlantic against what the ministry described as growing Russian threats.

Military officials and European leaders have warned that Russia has intensified hybrid warfare activities across the strategically important High North, including military flights, naval operations, and other actions intended to test NATO's defenses.

The latest encounter follows several recent confrontations involving Russian military forces and British assets.

"We live in an increasingly dangerous and uncertain time, and it's deployments like this, supported by allies and partners including Iceland, that improve our deterrence and defense as part of NATO," Jarvis said.

Gunnarsdottir said the carrier deployment demonstrates NATO's enhanced presence in the North Atlantic region.

The incident comes as Britain seeks to expand defense spending amid concerns over Russia's military posture.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week unveiled a 10-year defense investment plan that would increase military spending by about $20 billion through 2030, with total defense expenditures projected to reach nearly $397 billion over the next four years.

The spending increase follows warnings from British intelligence that Russia could pose a direct military threat to a NATO member by the end of the decade.

Jarvis assumed office less than a month ago following the resignation of his predecessor, John Healey, who stepped down after criticizing the government's defense funding plans as insufficient to meet Britain's modernization needs.

Russia has not publicly responded to the U.K.'s allegations regarding Thursday's encounter.