During a House of Lords debate on air defence capabilities, Lord Alton of Liverpool highlighted growing concerns over China’s military advancements, including the recent unveiling of a three-engine stealth bomber and a “mother ship” for drones.
He questioned the UK’s response to these developments and the implications for national security.
In response, Lord Coaker underscored the UK’s commitment to confronting these challenges through a mix of competition, cooperation, and direct challenge. “We need to challenge, whether that is at home or abroad,” he said.
A key component of this approach will be the deployment of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group in 2025.
“The hard power of our country and that of our international allies, including the United States, will be reflected next year when the carrier strike group goes not only through the Mediterranean but into the Indo-Pacific,” Lord Coaker stated.
He stated that this deployment aims to “assert the rule of law” and demonstrate the UK’s commitment to upholding international norms in the face of rising Chinese militarisation.
This mission is part of a broader strategy to ensure freedom of navigation in contested waters, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. The UK’s Carrier Strike Group, centered around HMS Queen Elizabeth, will collaborate with allies, including the United States, Japan, and other Indo-Pacific partners, to reinforce international rules and deter aggression.
The deployment also signals a continuation of the UK’s “Global Britain” agenda, which seeks to extend the nation’s influence beyond Europe and strengthen ties with regional allies. By challenging China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea and beyond, the UK aims to uphold international maritime law and secure critical global trade routes.
Lord Coaker’s remarks reflect the UK’s growing recognition of the interconnectedness of global security. “What happens in Europe affects the Indo-Pacific, and what happens in the Indo-Pacific affects Europe,” he explained, stressing the need for coordinated action among allies to counter shared threats.
This strategic deployment of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group reinforces the nation’s commitment to a rules-based international order and its readiness to face emerging security challenges.
Royal Navy carrier crew ‘excited’ for global deployment
As HMS Prince of Wales prepares to lead Carrier Strike Group 25 on a historic deployment to the Pacific, one word dominates the mood on board: excited. For the crew of the Royal Navy’s flagship, this mission marks the culmination of years of preparation, hard work, and perseverance.
Speaking aboard the ship, Captain Will Blackett spoke to me on the sense of accomplishment that has brought them to this moment. “Excited” he said when asked to summarise the mood among the crew. For Captain Blackett and his team, this deployment isn’t just another task; it represents the result of rigorous trials and intense training.
“It’s the first time this ship has held the duty of flagship,” Captain Blackett explained to me. “Over the course of four years, we’ve overcome quite a lot of challenges.” Among these was a major repair to the ship’s propeller system, a period that Captain Blackett acknowledged was critical in shaping the ship’s readiness.
Since then, the crew has put HMS Prince of Wales through its paces, both materially and operationally, ensuring that both the vessel and its sailors are prepared for the challenges ahead. “We’re ready to go,” said Captain Blackett. “The ship works, the team know what they’re going to do, and we’re on standby now waiting for instructions.”
The upcoming Carrier Strike Group 2025 operation will see HMS Prince of Wales take her task force east of the Suez Canal on a global mission. Britain’s two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, regularly rotate the flagship title between them, with one ready for deployment and the other in routine maintenance. This is the first time in her five-year career that HMS Prince of Wales has assumed the prestigious role.
Onboard @HMSPWLS, George Allison spoke to Captain Will Blackett about the ship’s role as flagship, its connection to Liverpool, and what the sight of a British carrier means to adversaries and allies alike. #HMSPrinceOfWales #RoyalNavy pic.twitter.com/96dgUJNoYT
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) December 3, 2024
Reflecting on the significance of the moment, Captain Blackett remarked, “This is a proud moment for HMS Prince of Wales. We’ve been training hard, ably assisted by our sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth. We’re ready, we’re excited, and look forward to taking the next step in the ship’s life.”
The transfer of the flagship role does not involve a formal ceremony, but the two carriers briefly met in UK waters before HMS Prince of Wales made her way to Liverpool for her official designation. HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Commanding Officer, Captain Will King, offered his support for the new flagship.
“Every Sailor in HMS Queen Elizabeth knows the pride that comes from serving in the RN Flagship. I wish HMS Prince of Wales every success taking on the title – they will do a fantastic job. As her sister-ship, we stand ready to support her in every way.”
As part of her preparations, HMS Prince of Wales participated in Exercise Strike Warrior, a major North Sea operation involving allied nations. The exercise included her first embarkation of F-35B Lightning jets from 809 Naval Air Squadron, which conducted 71 sorties over 210 flying hours and dropped live Paveway bombs during operational scenarios.
The carrier’s 800-strong crew worked closely with their task group to refine procedures and tactics ahead of next year’s deployment. As HMS Prince of Wales sets her sights on the Pacific, the excitement on board is palpable.
Sadly the RN is no match for the Chinese Navy – Chinas rate of advancement and development is impressive- whether you look at Ships, Aircraft, Drones, Missiles, AI. The speed and quantity of their developments is breathtaking. One Chinese shipyard out produces the whole of the US Navy. Within five years will even the US slink back to port rather than choosing to fight?
Couldn’t put it better myself. The west needs to wake up they are absolutely powerless the Chinese navy that everyone laughs at would completely annihilate the British armed forces and as for the United States they will soon be able to challenge them to. If not now.
Unfortunately I have to agree the Chinese are the one’s to watch, tech wise I think we’ve been kidding ourselves on thinking their not very good, wish we would stop talking about hard power we don’t have enough for Europe never mind the pacific it’s a little embarrassing to be fair
In really PLAN would happily accept a mutual blood bath with the USN. Because
1) its own population are not allowed to complain and would accept it.. the US population would kick out any president that let that happen.
2) China could essentially replace its fleet in 5 years, the US would take a generation or even longer.
👍
Naval warfare is not just about hull numbers. Experience counts for everything. And China has zero real world operations experience.
While I agree that experience is a vital factor it doesnt matter how experienced your are when you have 80 odd missiles for defence and the enemy is capable of lobbing 300 missiles at youm
And as one US admiral clearly iterated experience is gained through mass. Only with mass can you have the sea time and deployments to get experience and increase the quality of your navy. The RN became the best navy in the world through mass, the US navy took on that mantlet through mass.. at some point the RN will begin do significantly degrade due to lack of mass and the PLAN will significantly improve.
Ridiculous. The PLAN isn’t a battle tested force, nor is it even a proper blue-water navy. They lag significantly behind the US in tonnage, most of their hulls being corvette-sized costal boats. The US and UK have 13 super-carriers (3 more building), and China has almost one. Chinese subs lag decades behind in tech, not to mention force size. How can you say China’s rise is breathtaking when we don’t even know if any of what they have will work? It’s unlikely they could even invade and keep Taiwan without outside interference, and after you consider they have to out-build and out-class not only the US and UK, but Australia, Japan, South Korea, and many other regional foes as well, I just don’t see them as an existential threat. One evening of B-2 raids could shut their whole port system down. And how exactly will they be targeting all of these “ship-killer” missiles when they are hugely outnumbered and out-launched in space systems? They won’t pick a fight because they know they will lose, and lose badly.
Modern surface ships are largely useless in major conflicts. Not to burst the arm chair admiral bubble but escorts from China or anywhere else won’t survive in a contested environment for more than a few days.
That’s why the UK USA and Australia all poring hundreds billions into SSN’s. China is decades behind on SSN’s and lacks production capacity although that may catch up.
Only way the RN could meaningful contribute would be a couple SSNs, UKCSG wouldn’t last 2 minutes in hostilities with the combination on PLAN, PLAAF and PLARF launching triple digit AShMs/ASBMs salvos
I’m glad about the deployment on several levels. Its good to see POW leading Force Z again and that Australia is its intended destination.
Maybe the Australians can join up in Diago Garcia? It would be good to know if its going East or Westabout. Is it too wide to get through the Panama or would it go round Cape Horn? All sort of questions about that.
Finally we do need more MPA’s. With the Production line closing at Boeing we should invest in a VLR replacement assembled by Airbus. This needs to be able to fly much further than a 737 derivative and to have good stealth. I’m not sure if this can be done but for the North/ South Atlantic and Indo-Pacific one needs something with an unrefuelled 10-14k mile range or is it a drone?
On the matter of MPA I think the UK and EU should transition to the Kawasaki P1, in my opinion, a much better platform for the MPA role than the Boeing airliner based MPA. In my view this will strengthen the collaboration with Japan on Tempest and also provide the UK with a digitalized platform that makes it easier to incorporate UK and EU equipment and weapons, something the USA has made difficult with their offerings.
Lammy visited China last October. Reeves is there now. CSG2025 sails to re-inforce UK commitment to free trade routes and the rules based order. The Chinese respect us for that. The labour govt are working hard to carve out a UK trade relationship with China which is distinct, independent of the US.
That is an interesting comment. ‘Rules Based Order’ is an American expression; since the end of the Cold War it has basically meant ‘American Exceptionalism’ or ‘we don’t what we want when we want’. And seeing China is the biggest trade state how does patrolling the sea keep them free for trade when all China has to do is not let container ships go to sea to stop trade? And surely if we are not with the US then we have to be with China because we are certainly not big enough to go it alone. So how will PRC better for us than than than the US? Or are you one of those who disparage Trump because he isn’t going to start any wars? Very interesting comment. If the Labour Government wanted to help the UK’s economic situation it would call a General Election. What an odd little comment from you.
So, my thinking is still evolving on this. Some thoughts…I think the Chinese have a sneaking respect for the UK because the British Empire was built on trade, commerce, industry, technology. They are copying what we did. Foreign bases, Belt and Road etc. This understanding is a basis for dialogue. Secondly, the labour govts net zero renewables growth strategy for the economy needs lots of cheap Chinese stuff like solar panels. We can’t afford to let Trump’s relationship with China dictate the terms of trade between the UK and China. Meanwhile, in parallel, as good ally we will help the US in AUKUS and support the US ambitions to get the European members of NATO to increase defence spending and containing Putin. Lammy’s speech today was along these lines. The UK is meant to have a Rolls Royce diplomatic service..,time to start proving it 🙂
You better hope they don’t copy your opium trade.
Hopefully, there has been sufficient coordination that there will be an USN Cariter Group conveniently nearby when HMS PWLS is Iin the SCS. It’s not that the ChiComs are duplicitous…oh, wait…perhaps they are…🤔
Reasonably convinced that The Donald, despite many policiy differences, has very similar views re the PRC.
Would not be surprised if SLCM-N “Son of Nuclear Tomahawk” is accelerated during this administration. Might give Xi momentary pause to realize that if he twitches, PRC would be presiding over a stone age civilization, at best. 🤔
Trump is not my choice of president at all , but he does have the right approach to China and he’s not afraid to do something about it, however we part ways on his support for Ukraine.
Hmmm…really need to spell check…”Carrier Group…in…” 🙄
Hey Mate – happy new year to you Bud!
And to you and yours, Klonkie! Hope CSG 25 is able to make a port visit to NZ.
“…policy…’ 🤔
Just because our leaders talk like idiots and look like idiots, don’t let that fool you they really are idiots.
Not happy with bear baiting we’re now poking the dragon ffs.
Saying that, though ! “God loves the big battalions” and that’s the Americans.
Whether that will make a difference when the nukes are used it’s looking like we’re gonna find out.
All hail !!! The last leaders of our civilization.
God is on the side of the best shots, actually.
If I can be nit picky, it’ll be interesting to see if the carrier has had any of its defensive armaments upgraded or added to with 30mm, Ancilia and or Dragonfire and what’s on the RFA vessels.
Afloat support is being provided by the Norwegians at the moment. RFA don’t have any solid store support and doubt if they could get a tanker crew together in time
So we plan to challenge China with hard power but the government is currently engaged with the Chinese today, to try and court investment and trade. We either have a policy or we do not.
I haven’t heard anything about the 24 aircraft commitment recently. Has anyone else?
Commitment is still believed to be 24 UK jets onboard
Truly empty words. We are in no position to lay down the UNCLOS to the Chinese… did you notice that UNCLOS was not even mentioned?
At best we can offer new reef opportunities, genuine Royal Navy body(ies) fish food and a diminished drain on the Defence Budget. Hurrah. Along with an extra 1500 – 2000 PIDs left empty that the Treasury will swallow up and then sit on the money; alternatively, we will run away like last time.