F-35 jets launching from HMS Prince of Wales have conducted night flying exercises as part of Exercise Strike Warrior.
HMS Prince of Wales recently left Portsmouth to lead the UK Carrier Strike Group in a critical autumn training programme.
Lightning strikes in the darkness!
Royal Navy and RAF pilots have started night flying exercises with the F-35B.#StrikeWarrior #FighterFriday @thef35 pic.twitter.com/dkbh70YaHQ
— UK Carrier Strike Group (@COMUKCSG) October 4, 2024
This includes participation in Exercise Strike Warrior, a major multinational exercise in the North Sea off the Scottish coast.
For the first time, F-35B Lightning jets from 809 Naval Air Squadron deployed on a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier, marking a milestone for the squadron, which formed at RAF Marham last year. The deployment will see the jets carry out day and night operations as part of a multinational task force of warships, working alongside partner nations.
The exercise will allow pilots to achieve their carrier qualifications, while engineers and technicians will learn to maintain and support the UK’s most advanced fighter jets in the challenging conditions aboard a warship at sea. Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron will also participate, further developing their air-to-air capability by using Martlet missiles to defend the ship.
HMS Prince of Wales has undergone extensive preparations over the summer, including Operational Sea Training, where it was ensured the carrier is ready to handle emergencies such as fires and floods. After completing Exercise Strike Warrior, the ship will enter a final support period in Portsmouth before its global deployment next year.
The Carrier Strike Group staff and aircraft will disembark following the exercise, with HMS Prince of Wales continuing its winter programme before preparing for the 2025 deployment.
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.
Before someone asks. 12 F35Bs are currently onboard. 4 from 809 for deck qualification. And 8 from 617.
Hahaha that might stop a few comments, the night flights look a bit terrifying to be honest.
they make for good photos.😁
It’s a very demanding environment, that’s for sure. Good fun though.
Reasonable. Thanks mate. Any Merlin?
Not sure mate. Definitely Wildcat.
Some Merlin Mk4s are in Cyprus at the moment.
Aren’t they still grounded ?
Duh. 🙄 Of course I forgot.
👍
12 is a considerable force of deployed 5th Gen anyway.
Usual problem of balancing training pipeline against deportments and exercises.
What, surely it’s a waste of money unless there is 50 jets onboard and it’s sailing around Ceylon 😀
As if I would Robert 😉 Good to “sea” and great pictures. Let’s hope we carry on from here..
Why would 809 NAS form at RAF Marham rather than RNAS Yeovilton?
I think it’s because like the Harriers they’re RAF/RN joint force with the RAF having the main say & probably only Marham & USAF Lakenheath have heat resistant runway/pads necessary. All our F35 eggs are based at Marham for budgetary reasons.
I’d prefer a larger UK Armed forces with seperate RAF & FAA, but we are in his pickle right now. At least we’re finally creeping towards a 2nd F35 squadron becoming qualified.
Agreed I prefer RAF & RN has a seperate force ,but day’s gone I think .
Marham is home to the F35 force. All the brand new infrastructure is in place at Marham and Yeovilton was deemed not suitable for F35 operations (noise, infrastructure, airfield layout) Plus Yeovilton isn’t big enough to operate 48 or 74 F35s alongside the current Merlin and Wildcat fleets currently based there. Marham now has engineering infrastructure in place to the same standard as the USAF.
That is a bit like asking ( for an army man 😉 ) why would new Armoured Regiments not form at Beachley Barracks Chepstow, rather than at SPTA where the armour and infrastructure for that asset is.
Marham has the HAS, the GPSS, the Lightning Force HQ and all the specialised infrastructure for the force, and has FAA personnel embedded.
Yeovilton has no HAS, and although it operated Sea Harrier, as a station it is already rather busy.
Marham has the dedicated machines that go ‘ping’ and dedicated infrastructure for the F35 Graham.
practice makes perfect. the more the better
A request; please can article titles be clear as to whether the article is about an exercise, or real combat where lives may be at risk from hostile action? I feel a bit misled as to what this was about, and I can only imagine the anxiety it might cause for the family of those serving.
The article is a follow on from previous ones covering a multinational training operation. For those keeping up with them regularly it makes sense, I can understand you point of view if you’re not a regular here however.
Good work RN
Also, confirmation that Wildcat with Martlet does air to air as well as counter small boat.
How long do we have to wait for another batch of F35s?
What armament can the F35 current planes carry and have they tested these at sea in earnest?
Current armament is ASRAAM, ASRAAM and Paveway.
In air to air that matches anything currently in service, air to ground not so much.
We’ve certainly dropped bombs from them, but I don’t think we’ve fired AAMs, they tend to be too expensive so we just do simulated firings. For example a Meteor costs c. £2m, more than any other missile we fire. Still value for money, though.
To be more specific 200 AIM-120D were bought in recent years as an interim for the F-35 fleet. A very potent and modern AAM.
RN should use American F-35B and also Italian to know how to operate the carriers to the maximum capacities with full air wing complement.