As HMS Prince of Wales sails at the head of Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25), the United Kingdom is set to demonstrate the full power and global reach of its naval forces.
Speaking to assembled media aboard the vessel, Commodore James Blackmore RN, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, outlined the scale and significance of the upcoming seven-and-a-half-month deployment.
“Good morning, and welcome to the UK’s flagship, HMS Prince of Wales… I’m Commodore James Blackmore. I’m the commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, and I have the huge privilege of taking the strike group out to the Indo-Pacific this year.”
The Commodore described the mission as a defining milestone: “What is CSG25? Well, it’s a seven and a half month deployment to the Indo-Pacific. We’re going to undertake operations in the Mediterranean and the European region. We’ll transit through the Middle East and undertake operations in the Indo-Pacific region.”
He continued: “It’s a global deployment, and it’s international by design… And for me, there are three key head mark deliverables… The first one is the declaration of full operating capability of the UK Carrier Strike Group.”
More than a presence mission, CSG25 is set to mark a final confirmation of the Strike Group’s Full Operating Capability (FOC), something Blackmore noted was the result of years of effort: “It’s been a journey… that started off with those first of class flying trials… through the initial operating capability in 2021 and that first big global deployment, Op Fortis… and now where we are, standing in Prince of Wales, the now-on-watch, very high readiness carrier about to deploy and deliver that full operating capability by the end of the year.”
The significance of achieving FOC is wide-ranging. “It’s our ability to have two carriers, one always available. It’s about the growth of F-35 and its availability to support operations. There’s the Crowsnest capability in the Merlin as well… ships, aircraft, people, capabilities, all contribute to that full operating capability.”
Blackmore reaffirmed the strategic weight of the carrier strike group: “UK Carrier Strike capability is a cornerstone of the UK’s conventional deterrence… contributing to that ‘secure at home, strong abroad’ agenda.”
What’s point in spending billions on defense when government past and present go into negotiations in a coward way
It’s called jawjaw not warwar.
The state of our armed forces there is no way we can negotiate from a position of strength.
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Have you seen Russia and the US budding up recently, we have to rely on ourselves now.
Hi. I no the state of the world at the moment isn’t to good. Where has our patriotism gone, why can’t we all pull together as a mighty country again and put to oneside the hate and greed of certain people and organisations in and around the UK. My dad was a naval man with 28 years of service, mostly om H.M.S Bristol. When my dad returned from the Falklands the whole of my street in Gosport was out to see his return it was truly amazing. To the extent the whole street was donned in flags and people. Come on let’s all pull together
Sending half of the Royal navy away like this just shows how small the Royal navy now is . No mention of the type 32s which are desperately needed and perhaps more river class . £100s billions on welfare bugger all on warfare. When I lived in Gibraltar the squadron there was almost as big as the entire navy is now .
I wonder if General Healey and Admiral Starmer may consider we are over-stretching ourselves with these round the world trips? Posturing no more no less.