The UK’s Carrier Strike Group, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, will deploy to Japan in 2025 as part of a mission to deepen defence and security ties with the Indo-Pacific region.
The deployment underscores the UK’s commitment to working closely with Japan and other regional allies to promote peace and stability in a strategically vital area.
The Carrier Strike Group, equipped with F-35B Lightning jets and supported by submarines, warships, and supply vessels, will work alongside Japan’s Self Defence Forces in joint exercises and operations.
Defence Secretary John Healey highlighted the importance of the deployment, stating: “There are many miles between our two nations, but the UK and Japan stand closer together than ever in support of peace and security across the globe.”
During the mission, HMS Prince of Wales and her escorts will participate in operations aimed at enhancing interoperability with Japanese forces and reinforcing the UK’s support for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The deployment also aligns with the recently ratified Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a partnership between the UK, Japan, and Italy to develop next-generation combat aircraft.
“Later this year, the UK’s Carrier Strike Group will visit Japan as part of the flagship 2025 Indo-Pacific deployment. The group, comprised of Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, her escorts and her aircraft, will work alongside the Japanese Self Defence Forces and other partners to help defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. They will conduct a series of operations and exercises, including a port visit in Japan.
This follows the successful deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth to the region in 2021, and the Royal Navy boasts persistently-deployed Offshore Patrol Vessels HMS Tamar and HMS Spey operating closely with Japan and regional partners to promote maritime security.”
The deployment demonstrates the UK’s long-term commitment to Indo-Pacific security and its strong defence partnership with Japan.
Healey emphasised the strategic significance of the mission: “With increasing instability across the world, it is more important than ever that we strengthen cooperation with our international partners like Japan.”
Good, and ironic, to see Healey and Lammy have now consigned their pre election nonsense criticising “Pacific Tilts” which in any case don’t exist militarily, and never did, with the small long-standing forces we have out there, to the bin.
Excellent.
I think the F35B interoperability and jointly blended 6th Gen gourmet sauce may have had a bearing on that.
I agree it is a good thing and good news as we are working together in the two most significant projects.
It’s my understanding that the Kaga will be be joining the Elizabeth and the RN will be doing some fights off the Kaga. It will be interesting to see if Japan has any of its F35Bs operational by then ?
It’d be interesting to see how many the UK has (in total) by then – allowing how many to be deployed.
Its all gone quiet on UK deliveries 34,35,36 & 37 from last year ? + schedule for 2025, is it 11 ?
Cant see it given the software delay…..
I’m guessing that there are 29 in the UK. 4 in the US with 17Sqn. So deploying 24 would virtually close down the OCU as well. I’d be tempted to bite the bullet and deploy only 18.
Nor can you find dates for CSG25. Are the MOD pushing this date right in order to get more 35s over here prior to sailing – would make sense.
3 (plus 1 TR3 to 17 Sqd?) F-35B’s are due to be delivered Q1, leaving the final 7 aircraft to supposedly be delivered by the end of this year – all the troublesome upgraded TR3. I’m expecting that about 18 a/c will be deployed for CSG25 – no chance of 24. Still no official confirmation of which ships will constitute the CSG, but from RN side it looks set to be POW, the T45 HMS Dauntless, the T23 HMS Richmond, and a Tide class RFA – probably RFA Tideforce. Presumably an Astute class sub will join up for parts of the deployment, possibly Astute herself. We know that Norway is providing a replenishment ship (HMnoS Maud) and an unnamed Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate. Italy will also contribute a still unnamed frigate or destroyer for part of the deployment. Overall, CSG25 will be weaker numerically than CSG21.
No USMC F35s this time? I assume they will put every F35B on the POW for the flag-waving exercise.
As Italy are the only other F35B nation, it would be a good idea to take some Italians on the POW. It would give them big carrier experience.
Who knows – nothing announced.
Wouldn’t be beyond the bounds of possibility to have 24 UK F35B on QEC and some USMC join the party for a week or so to do a full load out?
Are any of the Italian pilots QEC qualified. There may have been exchanges so it is possible. Again nothing announced. It won’t be an on-the-day-have-go job that is for sure.
The Cavour just returned from a Pacific deployment at the end of November, including 8 F-35s and 7 Harriers. As Jonathan said, it’s too soon for another deployment. I wonder when Trieste will make the trip. Probably a few years yet.
But how long would it take Italian pilots to qualify for QEC? A significant proportion of British pilots had never set foot on a carrier before CSG 21.
Not a chance, they have only just hit IOC and at present can manage to deploy 6 Italian navy and 2 Italian airforce F35Bs on their carrier…they still have to use 7 harriers to make up the numbers….so there is no way they will be sending a squadron off on a UK carrier to the pacific when they are in the middle of still developing there own carriers air wing.
Japan and Singapore also operate F35B
I read of this last week,a great showcase of the two Navies skills and professionalism ,and the JMSDF is not short of Escorts – a definate win for CSG25.
Western allies navies have escorts coming out of their ears but few large deck carriers. Something often over looked by UK commentators who bemoan a lack of uk frigates and complain about the carrier’s.
CSG should be an opportunity to display coalition operations not Britains ability to send four escorts to the pacific.
Yes, tend to agree with you there Jim. I also think by the end of this decade or early 2030’s when the RN is back up to 19 Destroyers and Frigates – Availability of escort numbers will be better compared to last time we had 19 Escorts.
I’m sure China is quaking in their shoes. You realize that China has at minimum 2000+ fast jets right? They have almost 700 modern fighters on par with Eurofighter Typhoon. These Starmer publicity stunts will do nothing to deter Chinese aggression.