In a bold move not seen in decades, the Royal Navy is getting ready to launch its largest show of British airpower at sea since the Falklands War. HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy’s 70,000-tonne flagship, is set to leave Portsmouth within the next two weeks. She’s heading out to lead a powerful task group made up of warships, support vessels, and even a Royal Navy attack submarine.
At the heart of this operation? Up to 24 cutting-edge F-35B stealth jets, split between two squadrons – making it the biggest at-sea deployment of British jets since the early 1980s. It’s a serious upgrade in Britain’s ability to project force overseas, reported GB News.
But that’s not all. The carrier will also be loaded with a mix of helicopters – Merlin, Wildcat, and Chinook – along with a squadron of drones. Yep, drones. For the first time ever, the UK military will be deploying UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) aboard a carrier. Nine octo-copters will be flying about, ferrying everything from mail to mechanical parts between ships. It’s a small but futuristic twist in a very traditional naval setup.
This whole operation, dubbed Highmast, will span eight months and involve a whopping 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and 592 Royal Air Force personnel. They’ll link up with allies in the Mediterranean first, before moving on to the Indian Ocean and beyond. Around 900 British Army troops will also get involved at different stages, joining in military exercises along the way.
The UK isn’t going it alone, either. This mission has serious international backing. Norway is lending a warship and a logistics vessel for the full duration, while Canada and Spain are contributing frigates to the mix. Altogether, 12 other nations are lending support.
The first leg of the journey will see the strike group fall under NATO command, taking part in a major maritime exercise designed to test just how well alliance members can coordinate high-end sea power. From there, they’ll swing through the Indo-Pacific, linking up with forces from the US, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and others.
Why the Indo-Pacific? Trade, mainly – over £286 billion worth of it last year. It’s a region the UK clearly wants to keep close ties with, both militarily and economically.
Defence Secretary John Healey praised the operation, calling it a “unique opportunity” for Britain to show off its global reach and military muscle. “This is a deployment that not only shows our commitment to security and stability, but also provides an opportunity to bolster our own economy and boost British trade and exports,” he said.
The big send-off is planned for 22 April in Portsmouth, where thousands of family members are expected to wave goodbye to their loved ones as Prince of Wales heads off for what’s shaping up to be a historic voyage.
