For the first time, F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from 809 Naval Air Squadron have joined HMS Prince of Wales for a month of intensive training in the North Sea.
While the carrier has hosted F-35Bs many times before, this is the inaugural deployment for the newly reformed squadron, a key step in its preparations for an eight-month global deployment scheduled for 2025.
The Portsmouth-based carrier, along with approximately 200 personnel supporting the aircraft, will conduct carrier qualifications and mission training. The squadron’s presence on HMS Prince of Wales is part of a wider effort to enhance the UK’s carrier strike capability.
Punching harder & further, the F-35B has arrived!
These state of the art @thef35 jets will be putting the “Strike” in #StrikeWarrior later this month after carrier qualifications.
The newly stood up 809NAS have – for the first time – just landed on an aircraft carrier @HMSPWLS. pic.twitter.com/VkbNMcJMJN
— UK Carrier Strike Group (@COMUKCSG) September 30, 2024
Commander Nick Smith, Commanding Officer of 809 Squadron, reflected on the significance of this milestone in a recent Royal Navy news release: “This is a big moment for 809 Naval Air Squadron, a vital building block to working up with the carrier strike group in preparation for the deployment next year.”
He added, “Joining a carrier for the first time is truly a milestone for us.”
809 Squadron, which was established at the end of 2023, draws personnel from both the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force.
Many of the ground crew are experiencing operations at sea for the first time, including adapting to the unique challenges posed by a carrier’s limited space and demanding environment.
Lieutenant Commander Armstrong, one of the F-35B pilots, discussed the complexity of carrier-based flying: “It’s a common misconception that everything on an F-35 is automated. Landing is easier, but not easy. Imagine approaching, in the dark, 105ft above the ship, then moving across to set down on the deck.”
While the F-35B is a sophisticated aircraft, the shift from land-based to carrier operations requires both pilots and ground crews to undergo extensive training. Sergeant ‘Thorpy’ Thorpe from the RAF, now working at sea for the first time, said: “I’ve worked alongside the Navy for four years now, and while there are slightly different skills and trades, at the end of the day, we’re all working to the same high, professional standard.”
This training will culminate in Exercise Strike Warrior, a two-week exercise involving a full carrier strike group in the North Sea, where HMS Prince of Wales will operate alongside other naval vessels to further hone its operational capabilities.
The Queen Elizabeth class carriers are the most powerful warships ever built for the Royal Navy, displacing approximately 65,000 tonnes and measuring 280 metres in length. The carriers are capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft, including the advanced F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters and a variety of helicopters.
Commissioned in December 2017, HMS Queen Elizabeth has already undertaken significant operational duties, including a global deployment in 2021. HMS Prince of Wales, commissioned in 2019, has also deployed operationally to the United States as well as around Europe and the Arctic.
617 embarked with FAA and RAF and now 809 are embarking, for the first time, with purple,
This is just re-hashing that a title has been transferred but not that a new capability has been added;
MORE than ever, the Govt need to be challenged over their press releases and asked to return to releasing truthful statements, not this almost sophistry.
George, we need you to challenge this, not re-post it without comment or critique.
PLEASE!
Spin is HMG and MoD’s forte mate!
True but, they had that master of bollocks, Bluffer Johnson to tutor them to perfection and now need to be called to account and held in check.
Greetings from Cumbria and a, newly, 4 year old who managed to smear her face with chocolate… again! See you soon.
👍, yup DM. Always has, always will be. No stealth there.
Is this all about a second F-35B sqn being embarked and trained in carrier operations. It surely is real news?
Well, given pilots and staff rotate, yes, it might be.
Should a FULL 617 Sq defo join a full 809 Sq, it would be, is that happening, Sir?
I think the fact that we now have two F-35 squadrons ‘stood up’ rather than just one is positive news.
I am not insisting this is only news if they are both embarked at the same time. That would be big news for another time.
Are there only 2 jets embarked on PoW?
It is true that a picture tells a thousand words but in this case, even Defence wouldn’t dare claim that 2 planes make a Squadron…, yet! 😉
The what does that mean for the RAF’s 8 Sqn, with only 3 Wedgetails?
You got me. Hands up, coming quietly.
4, with more from 617 joining later for the main part of the exercise.
More MOD spin, without all of the necessary F35s for strike and self defence the Carrier has no ‘Punch’. Not sure how it can be described as the most powerful warship the RN have ever had, ships of the past had more firepower but that’s a different era. Displacement or length do not equate to ‘power’ or force projection.
The carriers are capable of carrying significantly more than 40 aircraft. They don’t intend to, for fairly sound reasons, but that’s not the same thing.
An aircraft carrier with jets punching harder than an aircraft carrier without jets, fancy that.
Combat Aircraft mag, this month ” the USMC is working to integrate the AGM-158B LRASM onto its F-35B/C”. LRASM would give real long range punch to UK F-35B. Just saying.
Even JSSM too and why not the podded cannon for the F35Bs? Might both be useful. Need a greater mix of actual weapons and less hot air statements.
Further quote from that article “The USMC is also working to integrate the AGM-158B JASSM-ER into its arsenal”. Just noticed I typed AGM-158B for LRASM, should of course be AGM-158C.
Nice one 809 NAS, FlyNavy! 👏. 🕳️🙃Btth.
I’m ex Royal Corp of Signals.
What the Hell is the MOD doing.
Allowing, all of our deployment, tactics numbers, moral, skills, training etc, etc,
To be commercialised like, TV/drama, entertainment.
If I was the enemy, firstly, I’d use all this information, to my full advantage.
If I had poor trained men, I’d model it on the best training methods and make them better.
I remember, watching a Navy recruit. Couldn’t hit a target at 200 mtrs with telescopic sights for goodness sake? What message does that give?
We were all hitting, half pop up targets, at 300 mtrs. with Iron sights FFS.
If you’re going to show the.MOD, Terrify the potential enemy. need to know bases!
They don’t like it up them, the fuzzie wuzzies?
KEEP EVERYTHING WE CAN CONFIDENTIAL.