As part of the ongoing Exercise Strike Warrior, four F-35B Lightning jets from 809 Naval Air Squadron launched in rapid succession from HMS Prince of Wales on 18 October 2024.

The event marked a key moment for the UK Carrier Strike Group as the squadron embarked on the carrier for the first time.

The rush of activity on the flight deck was captured in footage showing the four F-35B jets taking off one after another in quick succession.

Footage by AS1 Amber Mayall, RAF. Crown Copyright 2024.


This exercise is a significant step for 809 Naval Air Squadron, which is undergoing intensive training over the next few weeks. The squadron will be working alongside Royal Air Force 617 Squadron, which has also embarked its F-35Bs onboard the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier.

This marks the first time 809 Naval Air Squadron has embarked on a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier, and during the exercise, pilots will earn their carrier qualifications while integrating with the ship’s company. The training is designed to familiarise both pilots and personnel with the routine of carrier operations at sea.

Following the initial training phase, the exercise will intensify as HMS Prince of Wales is joined by allied NATO escort and support ships. Together, they will form a Carrier Strike Group for a two-week-long exercise, focusing on sharpening operational readiness and interoperability among NATO partners.

What is Strike Warrior?

Exercise Strike Warrior is a major naval training event held by the Royal Navy, designed to enhance combat readiness and strengthen interoperability among allied forces. Taking place off the coast of Scotland, the exercise involves a wide array of naval assets, including surface ships, submarines, and air units, such as the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG).

HMS Prince of Wales, one of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, plays a central role, alongside other vessels like HMS Iron Duke. The training scenarios during Strike Warrior include simulated air and missile attacks, anti-submarine warfare, and surface combat exercises, providing a rigorous test of the fleet’s capabilities.

It brings together forces from NATO allies and partner nations, fostering coordination and tactical skill development among participants. By simulating high-intensity combat operations, Strike Warrior aims to ensure that participating units, including aircraft, frigates, and destroyers, are well-prepared to meet the challenges of naval warfare.

George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison

23 COMMENTS

  1. Very hard to know what to make of that.

    Is it three take offs?

    The time interval is also unclear.

    There obviously needs to be a time interval to let the jet wash clear and not to overheat the strip of deck that gets the full hot blast from the swivel nozzle.

    I guess giving that timing interval away is seen as sensitive.

  2. Wonderful to see. The QE’s and F35 combo is a powerful asset for the RN and the UK, but does illustrate the need to increase the number of Escorts to create a better balance. As things stand the Navy would need to use the bulk of its available destroyers and frigates to properly defend a full Aircraft carrier group, to the detriment of needs elsewhere

    • I take your point but the reality is other Nato navies will provide escorts increasingly. Thats the nature of Nato now, increased cooperation. Those ships are big fat targets when operating in the North sea/Atlantic. The RN will never have the capability to provide a purely national CSG again.

      • If the RN left all its other commitments a CSG could be put together in absolute crisis scenario but it would leave everything else the RN needs to do wide open. Would be feasible in the correct scenario, i.e a Falklands invasion in which Argentina poses no threat to the rest of the UK. Bigger scenarios we are in a major problem.

  3. As an ex FAA engineer (35 years) and served on the Invincible class carriers with RN Sea Harriers and RAF Harriers wouldn’t it be simpler to make 809 all RN and 617 all RAF? 809 could do what the Navy does best, carrier strike and the Air Force could augment the air group as required. Single service squadrons always worked well in the past and we all know that the only reason the RAF got into bed with the Navy in carrier strike was to get their hands on a fifth generation jet. FLY NAVY!

    • Well shipwreck, trumps my 25yrs FAA ×5 decks. Fixed & rotary. But your absolutely correct.
      👍 Kernow, FlyNavy. 😃🕳️Btth.

    • I think we have so few F35B that dedicating them to one role would be a poor decision.

      We might easily end up at some point with one carrier in dock undergoing maintenance and the other might break down.

      However the F35B could still be fully utilized in a conflict, both from conventional runways and from many other locations where it’s short takeoff and vertical landing make it much harder to find than either the F35A or F35C would be.

      The aircraft is capable so we need to invest to make sure the pilots are as well. Joint squadron personnel is a good way to ensure this with all squadrons rotating their training through the different options.

      If I was setting up training the aircraft would be transitioning from carrier to operating from short land based runways on a regular basis.

      • The F35B doesn’t really offer much more utility than the ‘A’ from temporary Airstrips, the Airforces that have exercised ‘ off piste’ have used the ‘A’ model to good effect. The swivelling Jet Exhaust would make a mess of Tarmac and Concrete Roads.

  4. Why are 809 embarked with 617’s aircraft? I have not seen a photograph of a Phoenix badged one since they embarked. Maybe I have missed it.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here