British and Italian carriers lead massive NATO fleet

The Royal Navy and Italian Navy have combined their carrier strike groups for a significant joint exercise in the Mediterranean, as part of the Royal Navy’s flagship global mission.

The exercise, known as Med Strike, is seen as the high point of the UK’s Operation Highmast deployment.

The collaboration brought together the UK Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, and the Italian Carrier Strike Group, centred on ITS Cavour. The combined force, consisting of 21 warships, three submarines, 41 fast jets, 19 helicopters, 10 patrol aircraft, and around 8,000 personnel, operated in the Ionian Sea between Taranto and Sicily.

The exercise included F-35B Lightning jets from both nations conducting flying operations day and night. Essential training elements included anti-submarine warfare tactics, air defence drills, and drone threat responses. Lieutenant Commander Joe Mason, Second in Command of 617 Squadron, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration: “I am thrilled to work alongside my Italian colleagues and see how they control, launch and recover F-35s from the tower. We are stronger together, and combined training makes us more effective and more lethal for the future.”

Commander Nick Smith, Commanding Officer of 809 Naval Air Squadron, highlighted the importance of joint training: “Ex Med Strike affords the opportunities to prove force integration both within the air and maritime domains, learn from one another’s approaches to carrier aviation, and demonstrate Carrier Strike capability within NATO.”

During the exercise, the UK’s Type 45 destroyer also carried out a replenishment at sea with the Norwegian tanker HNoMS Maud, transferring 300,000 litres of diesel. Additionally, HMS Richmond conducted gunnery training, while Commando Merlin helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron transported the British Ambassador to Italy, Edward Llewellyn, to HMS Prince of Wales.

Captain Colin McGannity, Commander Air Group, stressed the significance of such multinational cooperation: “Working together with allies is critical to what we do. We are stronger together, so we work hard to make our combined operations seamless.”

Operation Highmast, the Royal Navy’s key deployment of 2025, will see the Carrier Strike Group journey from the Mediterranean through the Middle East to the Western Pacific Rim. The mission aims to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to security in both the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific regions while showcasing British military capabilities and fostering international cooperation.