13 January 2023 , 13:52
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Russian fighter jets can be seen “threatening” Britain’s flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth in footage where a naval officer warns them to turn away or he “may take action”.
HMS Queen Elizabeth was on its first operational mission heading towards the Suez Canal when it was confronted by the three bombers including SU-24 planes.
The incident was filmed in June, 2021, and has been released now as part of a BBC documentary, called The Warship: Tour of Duty, that follows the ship’s deployment to the Far East.
As the Russian planes near the ship, closing to 7,000 feet, naval officers are heard speaking as F-35 stealth jets are made ready to engage.
Russian jets were filmed approaching the HMS Queen Elizabeth (BBC)“I've got three Russian jets at six miles,” said one officer with another replying: “Visual. Roger. Three Russian aircraft coming in.”
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At this point an officer on board the Queen Elizabeth, which had 1,500 crew onboard, warned the Russian pilots to “turn away”.
He said: “This is a coalition warship. Your actions appear to be threatening. Turn away immediately or I may take action against you.”
The HMS Queen Elizabeth was on a deployment to the Far East (PA)And in the command room an officer can be heard saying: “Warnings have been read following hail from Queen Elizabeth, no response to the warnings this time, aircraft continuing to close.”
The planes then fly over the aircraft carrier and head off in what is believed to be just one of several occasions where the Queen Elizabeth was met by Russian fighter jets.
The Royal Navy reportedly said encounters with other forces were routine (BBC)It has also been revealed that the Russian flagship Admiral Makarov was trying to block the royal navy vessel from launching its jets with missions at the time taking places against ISIS in the Middle East.
But the Makarov was stopped as the American escort ship US Sullivans came in to deter it.
The Royal Navy has stated that it “routinely” had encounters with other forces during the deployment.
A Navy officer was heard telling the Russian planes to turn away (BBC)A Royal Navy spokesperson told The Mirror: "HMS Queen Elizabeth and her multinational taskforce were routinely approached by maritime and airborne forces throughout the successful Carrier Strike Group deployment in 2021.
"As ever, robust measures were in place to protect the group, including an Astute Class submarine, and where necessary and appropriate, routine challenges were issued."