HMS Prince of Wales and the carrier’s embarked F-35 stealth jets are preparing for Exercise Strike Warrior.
HMS Prince of Wales recently left Portsmouth to lead the UK Carrier Strike Group in a critical autumn training programme.
This includes participation in Exercise Strike Warrior, a major multinational exercise in the North Sea off the Scottish coast.
8 days since leaving Portsmouth:
✅ @COMUKCSG and first RN Fixed Wing Sqn in 15 yrs embarked
✅ Action Stations
✅ @FOST Warfare training startedPreparations for #StrikeWarrior continue… pic.twitter.com/Jvq63vgXt5
— HMS Prince of Wales (@HMSPWLS) October 6, 2024
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.
I wonder if they will be used in real action, against the Houthis for example, before the F35s can deploy a wider range of munitions.
Yeah, can only use Paveway iV which requires the F35 to be over the target. Probably conduct ‘aggressive’ CAP’s to target any drones that come the CSG’s way.
Typhoon has a wide range of weapons and has only used Paveway IV against the Houthis. What weapons are you thinking about, no aircraft in the world carries anything like SPEAR at the moment. Paveway IV is pretty much the best direct attack munition in the world at present.
Ah fair enough. Lost track of what the Americans have been using on their’s. Is it mostly Paveway as well?
US doesn’t not have Paveway IV so it’s Paveway II and JDAM BLU 110 on USMC F35B’s.
Paveway 4 is one of the most accurate and flexible weapons any fast jet can deploy. And has considerable stand-off range. The RAF has dropped more Paveway 4s than any other weapon since its first introduction into service back in 2007. It’s received considerable upgrades since then. An all aspect stealth aircraft like F35 with Paveway 4 can hit 90% of all potential targets. From high value strategic targets. Moving targets, to individual people. Night or day in any weather. F35 and Typhoon are capable of dropping 6 bombs to 6 individual targets in one pass.
Paveway has a stand off range of around 20miles…most people seem to forget that the bomb does not just drop off the aircraft and somehow dumps all its energy. If you release a guided bomb from a fighter it will have energy related to the energy state of the fighter..and the fighter can lob the bomb. So you’re actually throwing the bomb up into a ballistic arc travelling at and have all the energy of something travelling at the same speed as the jet fighter.
They already did against Daesh in 2021. Paevway IV and AMRAAM is a pretty potent load out in anyone’s book.
No that’s not true, the pavaway IV has a stand off range of around 20miles. The RAFs weapon of choice for most things is the paveway IV even on the typhoon that has plenty of other options.
Was about to say this.
I didn’t state anything, true or otherwise. I am just curious why there appears to be no plan to use the carriers in the Red Sea in the kind of mission they were bought for.
Eisenhower and its F18s were there for months.
Anyone know if the RN is planning to fit the 30mm cannons? I know this topic has been flogged to death in the past (sorry). Now that PoW is scheduled to deploy on CSG25 next year, I was wondering if anyone knows if the RN will revisit? Maybe the Bofors 40mm slated for the Type 31 instead of the 30mm? Our carriers still look perilously naked when it comes to self defence!