British carrier ‘punches harder’ as stealth jets embark

For the first time, F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from 809 Naval Air Squadron have joined HMS Prince of Wales for a month of intensive training in the North Sea.

While the carrier has hosted F-35Bs many times before, this is the inaugural deployment for the newly reformed squadron, a key step in its preparations for an eight-month global deployment scheduled for 2025.

The Portsmouth-based carrier, along with approximately 200 personnel supporting the aircraft, will conduct carrier qualifications and mission training. The squadron’s presence on HMS Prince of Wales is part of a wider effort to enhance the UK’s carrier strike capability.

Punching harder & further, the F-35B has arrived!

These state of the art @thef35 jets will be putting the “Strike” in #StrikeWarrior later this month after carrier qualifications.

The newly stood up 809NAS have – for the first time – just landed on an aircraft carrier @HMSPWLS. pic.twitter.com/VkbNMcJMJN

— UK Carrier Strike Group (@COMUKCSG) September 30, 2024

Commander Nick Smith, Commanding Officer of 809 Squadron, reflected on the significance of this milestone in a recent Royal Navy news release: “This is a big moment for 809 Naval Air Squadron, a vital building block to working up with the carrier strike group in preparation for the deployment next year.”

He added, “Joining a carrier for the first time is truly a milestone for us.”

809 Squadron, which was established at the end of 2023, draws personnel from both the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force.

Many of the ground crew are experiencing operations at sea for the first time, including adapting to the unique challenges posed by a carrier’s limited space and demanding environment.

Lieutenant Commander Armstrong, one of the F-35B pilots, discussed the complexity of carrier-based flying: “It’s a common misconception that everything on an F-35 is automated. Landing is easier, but not easy. Imagine approaching, in the dark, 105ft above the ship, then moving across to set down on the deck.”

While the F-35B is a sophisticated aircraft, the shift from land-based to carrier operations requires both pilots and ground crews to undergo extensive training. Sergeant ‘Thorpy’ Thorpe from the RAF, now working at sea for the first time, said: “I’ve worked alongside the Navy for four years now, and while there are slightly different skills and trades, at the end of the day, we’re all working to the same high, professional standard.”

This training will culminate in Exercise Strike Warrior, a two-week exercise involving a full carrier strike group in the North Sea, where HMS Prince of Wales will operate alongside other naval vessels to further hone its operational capabilities.

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.