HMS Queen Elizabeth will soon be joined by seven British destroyers, frigates and auxiliaries, plus other supporting units, to form a fully sovereign Carrier Strike Group, ready to fight on the surface and in the air, say the Royal Navy.

Her complement of jets comes from two squadrons of F-35Bs, the RAF’s 617 Squadron (The Dambusters) and the US Marines Corps VMFA-211 (Wake Island Avengers).

The Royal Navy also say that With a total of 14 jets and eight Merlin helicopters, it’s the largest concentration of fighter jets to operate at sea from a Royal Navy carrier since HMS Hermes in 1983, and the largest air group of fifth generation fighters at sea anywhere in the world.

Image Crown Copyright 2020.

The Carrier Strike Group will be put through its paces off the north east coast of Scotland as part of Joint Warrior, NATO’s largest annual exercise.

Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said in a press release:

“The United Kingdom’s maritime renaissance has been unfolding over many years, as we introduced a new generation of ships, submarines and aircraft into service. But this marks the first time we have brought them together in a cohesive, potent, fighting force. HMS Queen Elizabeth will be operating with the largest air group of fifth generation fighters assembled anywhere in the world. Led by the Royal Navy, and backed by our closest allies, this new Carrier Strike Group puts real muscle back into NATO and sends a clear signal that the United Kingdom takes its global role seriously.”

Image Crown Copyright 2020.

617 Squadron Commanding Officer, Royal Navy Commander Mark Sparrow, was quoted as saying:

“This is an incredibly exciting time for 617 Squadron as we begin a new era of partnership with the US Marine Corps building towards next year’s operational deployment with HMS Queen Elizabeth. You need to go back more than three decades to find the UK operating anything on this scale or complexity and this is a first for fifth-generation carrier capability. The era of big-deck, fast jet carrier operations is back.”

Image Crown Copyright 2020.

VMFA-211 arrived in the UK just under two weeks ago. Their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Freshour USMC, was quoted as saying:

“The Wake Island Avengers are ready in all respects to work with the British sailors and aircrew on board HMS Queen Elizabeth. We are looking forward to deploying alongside our British counterparts over the next few months, and we will work tirelessly as a part of this transatlantic naval force. We are proud to play such an important role in the generation of an allies’ carrier strike capability.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth has welcomed UK and US F-35B jets for a major exercise

Captain James Blackmore, the UK’s Carrier Air Wing Commander, added:

“We are going to learn a huge amount from operating F-35Bs at sea with the USMC, they have had them longer and we can share ideas and practices. But this is much more than that; this is the trans-Atlantic alliance in action, demonstrating that two close allies can not only fly from each other’s carriers, but can fight alongside each other should we need to. This level of integration offers a decisive flexibility in times of crisis, conflict or war.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth has welcomed UK and US F-35B jets for a major exercise

The Royal Navy say that HMS Queen Elizabeth, along with her 1,680 sailors, aviators and marines, is due to return to her home port of Portsmouth next month.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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170 COMMENTS

    • Oh of course, I mean the likes of the BBC and ITV, where the ignorant masses of the UK population can see what their country is capable of.

      • Waiting for the BBC to knock out an article about how there are no transgender pilots and how the Military should be prosecuted for how how fighting trenches don’t have wheelchair access.

      • I guessed that – I was joking. Both channels do quite a few programmes on the services, as do other channels. Still, I remember the late Prof Richard Holmes saying most people wouldn’t now wouldn’t know the difference between a Bombardier and a Brigadier.

      • Thats a bit of sweeping statement for you Daniele ,you are usually more diplomatic than that. ITV maybe, BBC is a bit of a stretch. From one who is part of the BBC ignorant masses ;).

          • I share your concerns about the BBC the once trusted corporation whose political bias is so transparent, along with the reporters they employ. Defence will always get a rough ride with such people.

          • Absolutely, the once world renowned BBC is steadily sliding into left wing driven political correctness …. Very little to watch now, great to see my hard earned money being spent on programming like Canada’s drag race! …. Piss poor.

            Make it subscription and let’s see who bothers staying with it.

          • show me a national TV channel which is better – anywhere. You go down the route of privately funded channels and they don’t even try to be impartial. It just turns into a PR machine for their political leanings – left or right. Why should the BBC provide excessive coverage of the military? Government/public sector is massive with lots of branches, most of them don’t get any coverage either.

            I don’t buy all this claptrap about “left wing BBC”. Perhaps the BBC hold the government to account and given we’ve had a tory government for so long that means the BBC have held the Tory government to account. Suppose we get a labour government next time round, will the BBC still be left wing then?

          • In a very rare case of disagreement with you Daniele, I struggle to find much to watch on the BBC now.

            Some quality can can be found on BBC2, BBC4 and radio 4, but the majority of the programming seems to go through the woke filter, bland politically correct comedy and dumbed down current affairs.

            BBC news seldom covers anything in depth and the breakfast program is an unwatchable shallow lifestyle magazine show, covering all things Woke.

            A great example of the woke filter was seen this morning with the NHS Contact tracing feature on the news, we were treated to a little cartoon
            (because we are too stupid to take this information in without a cartoon) featuring a Muslim lady and a chap in a wheelchair … It’s typical of the fear that seems to run through the BBC these days, running absolutely terrified of any complaints from any minority…

            I’m old enough to remember quality BBC content, the last guy in charge has steered the ship towards the rocks…..

            Do I resent ‘my’ hard earned money paying for quality BBC1 content like Canada’s drag race ….. Yes I bloody well do!

            So yep, make it subscription and see who wants to pay for a lady Dr Who ( we can expect Eddie Izzard in frock as the next Dr no doubt) , or in depth features on all things minority focused.

          • John.

            You’re welcome, no worries.
            I dislike all that stuff too, as you know. Sheer PC madness. I was thinking more along the lines of the historical and nature programmes, coast, Alison Roberts, Sport, Match of the Day, and Masterchef!
            May I respectfully correct my “most” comment to “some”
            I still agree with J1 that as a national channel it is better than most, as my often desperate viewings of the total crap on French and Italian TV round at my father’s show.

          • The BBC will claim their budgets are cut by central government and hence a decline in programming. They said this would happen at the time – and it did. Seems unfair to criticize them. On one hand many will, but on the other they are not willing to support funding via increased tax or cuts to other budgets.

            You must also consider the brilliant BBC website (how many languages?) and the expanding iplayer. The days of broadcast TV are almost gone yet that’s how most old geezer’s on this website judge them which is wrong. I think they still offer terrific value.

          • I think its more a case of a very definite left wing bias by those in charge at the BBC, you only had to watch their BREXIT coverage to see an undeniable anti Brexit stance that came over loud and clear and damaged the BBC’s once unshakeable reputation for impartial media.

            I feel its time it was made subscription, perhaps a two speed approach, no adverts for subscribers and adverts for broadcast media.

            There’s never been more people not paying the licence and I will join the rapidly growing ranks as soon as its decriminalised.

            10 years ago, I had no problems paying for the BBC, today the best most can say is its less poor than other national providers, hardly a glowing defence!

            I certainly strongly resent paying to put money into the pockets (and fuel) bland easy listening/elevator music type programming, like All round to Mrs browns and anything with Michael McIntyre or “I will take an asylum seeker” Gary Lineker, I note he’s yet to claim his economic migrant…

            Stop paying these people, for the love of god, you only encourage them!

          • anti-brexit is hardly left wing, since the (non-momentum) left-wing got Boris elected and his Brexit mandate through. Most warnings about brexit are being played out though aren’t they? Only chance of a US trade deal is Trump being re-elected. The Brexit right will have egg on their face!

          • Lets not move onto that one Julian, suffice it to say that a massive un-democratic effort, to turn over the will of the majority, was rightly crushed by the last general election…

            Whatever happens next, we are in charge of our own destiny, not controlled EU …. 100 days to full independence!

          • The EU will simply be swapped for whatever super-sized economy wants to give us a deal. Their terms….over a barrel…..back-door decimation of sovereignty anyway. As you say the electorate has made its choice…

          • We won’t see eye to eye on this one either Julian!
            Trade deals aside, the main point is our elected sovereign parliament, will be fully in charge of our laws and we can get rid of the sitting tenants every five years!

            Plus, just as important, our UK supreme court will rightly be the highest court once again.

            It’s all about a fully UK accountable democracy and justice system, the two foundation stones of a truly Indipendant sovereign nation.

            Have a great evening…

          • And what are these brexit warnings that are being played out I’ve not seen super STIs yet or emergency budgets or hundreds of thousands of job loses just on the vote (not 3 years later due to COVID) I must have missed the city of London moving like they said would happen and a trade deal with the USA is nothing it’s not that important with or without trump trade with the USA will increase and trade with Europe will go down

          • Hi Julian, while overall I think the BBC are pretty good, the style of news (not just at the BBC) irks me though. It does seem dumbed down with far too much ‘vox pop’ crap, “lets go to the streets of Doncaster to see what they have to say about X/Y or Z”. Half say good, half say bad and some glib reporter keeps a straight face, its all utter bollocks. That the interviewers seem to be given free reign to indulge their personal views and prejudices seems to be more of an issue than the institutions being biased.

            For me its more of a deterioration of quality rather than any overt bias. I watched Wee Jimmy get it tight from the STV news interviewer yesterday and even me and the missus (who rabidly hates Wee Jimmy) thought it was aggressive. I don’t have a ‘go to’ news channel of preference any more but I need to get my news from somewhere.

          • Newsnight is an excellent program. BBC World News brings international news stories to you where ever you are in the world at any time. Perhaps BBC News at 6pm should not be confused with these programs. Nor should the extensive network of BBC News correspondents who are expert and in some cases risk their lives to get the story.

            Perhaps just don’t watch the news bulletins on BBC1

          • I do enjoy Andrew Neill dissecting folk who haven’t done their homework but I do get bored when the panelists stick to their party doctrines and no matter what, good or bad they are duty bound to say the ‘other lot’ are wrong. It does get tedious.

          • Is the BBC World service still around? That had a high reputation. And from a defence standpoint links to MI6.

          • yes it is, but I actually meant the BBC World TV channel for international audiences. Soft power and international news which can be hard to come by in some countries.

            PBS – Public service broadcasting (free) – in the US shows alot of BBC programming. Paid for by charitable donations by those who appreciate UK program making over their own private drivel

          • Dan
            What i will say (Though i agree about the biased Brexit thing)
            The Beeb in general do some real good programs
            From current affairs to some cracking dramas
            And from a personal point of view when i was at sea there was no internet or smartphones or anything like that but you could always relie on the good old BBC World Service
            In fact in 82 during the Falklands that was what i and most of us relied upon to find out what as happened as i think you back home knew more than what i did

          • My personal view is that a national broadcaster such as the BBC should give a balanced view about all national assets and services. In the case of the military that is served by fly on the wall documentaries on a T45, Carrier, RAF training etc. it would also be helped by the news showing brief clips of certain milestones to give the public a basic understanding.

            Documentaries have proved popular on the health service, police etc. expanding on that into all areas is I think the duty of any public broadcaster

          • The BBC prefer to focus on “historic” military rather than current. I mean: BoB coverage last week, WW1 etc. They look at it through the lens of history rather than hobby or power projection.

          • Have to be honest in that my mind if the BBC are doing an equally good job of annoying Brexit voters who perceive them as pro-remain, and annoying remainders through employing the likes of Laura Kuensberg who are perceived as too chummy supportive of the Tories, in my mind they’re doing a good job of both sides so may be relatively impartial.

            In terms of positive portrayal of the RN and QE Class, think their documentary gives far more high profile and useful coverage than a here today gone tomorrow article about the task force (as significant as that task force may be). Perhaps filming for another series during this exercise?

      • Exactly what negativity from the BBC and ITV are you referring to? This is definitely a massive step forward and a sight to behold. But it must be remembered that the CSG is still a work in progress and as it stands not as potent as it’s combined assets suggest. For example a fight between this group of ships and a peer navy might not be easy given the current lack of modern anti-ship missiles.
        The key, in my view, is not to see this as having great visuals and as a job done and then further reduce funding. What will be needed is a steady hand and a dedicated line of funding to bring in the weapons (and integration) required as well as quality support vessels and escorts built and armed as need requires. The defence budget this year under the 2% rule will have dropped from £57bn to £45bn, roughly equating to 4 HMS Queen Elizabeths or 8 Type 26 frigates. A sobeing thought. Slowing down builds can save money on an April to April basis but cost more over the full term. More importantly slowing down ship building, or cancelling altogether, costs jobs and loses skills. It will be interesting to see how Rt Hon Ben Wallace squares all of this with his pledge not to cut the services.
        The government view with HS 2, and the huge expense of that, is that the overall cost to the Treasury is minimal as most of the investment either comes straight back or works it was through the general economy. Why can’t that thinking be applied to shipbuilding for the RN?

  2. A big thank you to our friends in the Marine Corps, integrated forces is the future and the UK is leading the way.

    Looking forward to future Italian, Singaporean, Korean and Japanese F-35Bs embarking.

  3. Impressive. Let’s keep moving forward. Somewhere over the last few weeks I have suggested that we buy another dozen or so aircraft…five sqds. of ten plus an ocu? Probably hte minimum to run both ships if we need to. There is certainly room on those decks.

    • In the event we need to run both carriers simultaneously I have a feeling any spare F35 airframes in storage will be worked up and activated anyway, as it would have to be an existential threat to either us or an ally to require it.

      We would likely still have just the 4 squadrons but they would be expanded to have more jets. My understanding is there are always more pilots than planes anyway, so in dire straits an F35 squadron could be expanded from 12 to, say, 16 or 18 planes.

      • Hi Steve…I went with 10 because that’s what the USN are running. They find the smaller number more practical apparently.

  4. A proud day for Britain and the Royal Navy. But out of interest. How many aircraft are in each squadron? Given that a raf squadron usually contains 12 aircraft and the USMC work on squadron of 10 (I think) then wouldn’t the number be 22?

  5. “The Royal Navy also say that With a total of 14 jets and eight Merlin helicopters,”

    Slightly off topic. I was reading an article the other day (June Issue Airforces monthly)
    regards how the Italians used the AgustaWestland AW101 as the starting point for their new Combat Search and Rescue helicopter. It features new engines and updated systems and equipment which they named as the HH-101A Caesar. yes I know the UK is skint (Unless you happened to have just relocated to Napier Barracks) but it would be nice to see the Uk purchase a few of these
    https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/hh-101a-caesar-medium-lift-helicopter/

    • Totally agree with you on the Merlin. It has more potential and we need more including to sustain the production line and the hard working team at the factory.

      Does an argument exist to follow the USMC with the Cobra and CH53?

  7. Easy to moan but this is great to see even if there are only 6 UK F35s on board. I feel the bigger problem is AEW. Crowsnest is still not working and operating with land based AEW becomes less likely as the Wedgetail order is down sized.

    Now I know it has been said before but a couple of V22s would have plenty of room for some pretty good radars…

    • And the biggest failure of the Falklands Conflict was lack of AEW, here we are sailing again (thankfully not to war) without AEW. Having to rely on landbased AEW defeats the purpose.

      • I understand Crowsnest will be embarked next year, despite not yet having achieved IOC. We’re goi g to look somewhat foolish if we do send QE to the South China Sea without it…….

        • Its not desirable to sail without organic AEW but it should be remembered that every US Navy ship outside a CSG sails in the South China Sea, East China Sea and Philippine Sea without organic AEW. That includes the LHDs such as the USS America. Even a pre-IOC Crowsnest is more than any non-CSG asset has available to it. To which we should also remember to add the F35’s sensor capabilities.

          The US of course has a number of options to support land based AEW across the region from airfields in Japan, Guam, Philippines and Singapore with E-3 permanently based at Okinawa.

        • Any AEW out in that part of the world will be provided by the US Navy. We might be providing the platform and the people to ‘drive’ it but that platform will be a very small part of a much larger operation. If we were operating unilaterally then it would be a massive issue. The reality is it is not.

          • True, the USN will no doubt provide AEW. However the UK is eager to demonstrate that we can deploy a sovereign CBG by ourselves, complete with all the required assets, hence Crowsnest will sail on the QE and will no doubt be used in order to avoid the egg on face scenario, specially after we opted for the cheapest and most simplistic version in order to get it into service!!

      • USN LPHD”s such as USS America operate in the south China sea with no organic AEW. No problems at all. Once Crownsnest is in service, coupled with the F35 sensors, we will have a very capable and flexible AEW capability within the resources available to the RN

      • Another stealth cut. I’d missed 849 had gone.

        If someone gave me a choice of ANY increase in numbers of ANY type in service, I’d choose more Merlins.

        • Some more information can be found here.

          Helicopters

          Merlin HM2’s operating on HMS Illustrious

          The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review saw the Fleet Air Arm operate two types of helicopter replace the RN’s aging fleet —the AW101 Merlin and the AW159 Wildcat.[87] In the carriers and frigates, the larger Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter is used.

          There are 30 Merlin HM2 helicopters in service.[88] The Royal Navy’s Sea King Commando HC.4s were withdrawn in 2016, replaced by the Merlin HC.3 variant obtained from the Royal Air Force. These are being upgraded to HC.4 standard, including a full glass cockpit similar to the HM.2, and folding rotor blades and tail.

          The future AEW capability of the FAA is the “Crowsnest” programme, is set to replace the former Sea King ASaC7 fleet which retired in September 2018. Current plans will see Crowsnest achieve initial operating capability in September 2021. Full operating capability is expected in May 2023.

          [89] The original six year capability-gap between the retirement of the Sea King ASaC7 fleet and the entry service of Crowsnest was the source of much criticism.[90] A PAC report had revealed the Main Gate decision for the Crowsnest to be around 2017.

          [91] Crowsnest is now scheduled to be initially operational by late 2021. As a result of the time gap between the planned out of service date of the Sea King, and the introduction of “Crowsnest”, seven Sea King ASaC.7 helicopters were extended in service until September 2018.

          [92][88] Thales was selected as the chosen bidder to provide the radar and mission system at the heart of the Crowsnest capability on 22 May 2015. They will provide a slightly upgraded version of the existing Searchwater 2000 radar.

          [93] All 30 of the Royal Navy’s HM2 Merlins will be equipped to carry the Crowsnest system, though a maximum of 10 could be fitted with it at any one time.[88] As of 2020, the out of service date for the HM2s was envisaged as 2029 while the Mk4s were scheduled to retire by 2030.”

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_of_the_Royal_Navy#Helicopters

  8. what a beautiful sight.

    If I was a 16-22 year old I would be looking to be a part of this, sadly I am not…

    great effort all round and it does show what we can do.

    • If you were 16-22 year old I’d be trying to persuade you to be a para 😉

      All joking aside, great career available in the Navy. Be great to say you’ve served on a carrier

    • Dan, just because you’re not interested in the military doesn’t make you a troll. Its easy to lose sight of on a forum that is full of guys who like this stuff but there are plenty out there who would rather the money was spent on schools and hospitals, you can’t really blame them for having a different set of priorities.

  11. Out of interest, how combat-ready are the F35’s? I know Meteor and Spear 3 is a bit of a way off but I’m assuming they have older weapons integrated already?

      • Hopefully, the government might reconsider its current way of thinking before 2026 so they will be able to use Meteor and Spear 3.

        “The U.K. government has disclosed for what appears to be the first time that it is not necessarily committed to eventually upgrading all 48 of the F-35B Joint Strike Fighters that it plans to buy with the still-in-development and increasingly costly Block 4 package.

        Jets without the updates would be left with more limited capabilities. This also raises questions about how existing and future F-35 operators might approach the same question.”

        https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/34330/british-government-says-it-might-pass-on-27m-upgrade-for-some-of-its-f-35s

        • Shyt stirring again Nigel? The British F-35B’s that won’t get the upgrade are machines that would never be deployed operationally. If you read reputable websites, you’d know this.

          • It might well be the ones that have a limited life cycle as they failed structual testing pre lot 9 if you read my posts without adding your usual idiotic comments.

            DOD FY 2019

            “Static Structural and Durability Testing Activity

            • Teardown inspections of the F-35A full scale durability test
            article (AJ-1) were completed in July 2019 and correlations
            to the finite element models (FEM) are in progress. The
            FEM data are used to estimate the structural and durability
            performance of the original design structure. The program
            expects the F-35A Durability and Damage Tolerance report to
            be released in February 2020.

            • Teardown inspections of the original F-35B full scale
            durability test article (BH-1) were completed in October 2018.
            The program canceled the third lifetime testing of BH-1
            due to the significant amount of discoveries, modifications,
            and repairs to bulkheads and other structures that caused
            the F-35B test article to no longer be representative of the
            wing-carry-through structure in production aircraft. The
            program secured funding and contracted to procure another
            F-35B ground test article, designated BH-2, which will have
            a redesigned wing-carry-through structure that is production
            representative of Lot 9 and later F-35B aircraft.”

            https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2019/dod/2019f35jsf.pdf?ver=2020-01-30-115432-173

          • Zero British F35’s will be withdrawn due to Structural issue’s. Again, Structural modifications are common, even in relatively new aircraft. Hawks, Tornado, Harrier, Typhoon have all had structural modifications.

        • It’s common that not all the aircraft in a fleet recive the full range of upgrades. Same with Typhoon, not all of them received the full project centurion upgrade. Same will apply with F35. Jets on the frontline sqn’s will recive the full block 5, and much more further down the line. Jets on the OCU and in the sustainment fleet probably won’t. This is nothing new, and a very common way of managing fast jet fleets. We had a number of Harriers at different capability standards.

  12. Impressive, the UK now has two serious carriers – no one other than the USA will have anything better for some years yet. There wasn’t space to swing a small cat on the few occasions an Invincible CVL embarked 14-15 Harrier’s and Sea Harrier’s. The F-35B is significantly bigger, but Queen Elizabeth’s flight deck still seems pretty empty with 14 on deck. A better comparison though is Eagle and Ark Royal [IV] in their prime – it would be an interesting exercise to transpose using photoshop one of their “busy” flight decks on to Queen Elizabeth.

  13. I wonder if we can expect to see these at some point on the flight deck too?

    Interesting times ahead!

    British Navy Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier will be used to test large unmanned aerial vehicles
    June News 2020 Navy Naval Maritime Defense Industry

    “This drone project will be developed in collaboration with the 700X Naval Air Squadron, this unit was formed to oversee the development and innovation of cutting-edge remote-piloted flight systems within the British Navy.

    According to news released on February 2019 by “The News” website, United Kingdom is looking to create a new state-of-the-art unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that could fly from the decks of the British Navy’s two new aircraft carriers.”

    https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2020/june/8537-british-navy-queen-elizabeth-class-aircraft-carrier-uavs.html

      • Interesting beast…

        Coincidently, there are some interesting insights into smaller UAV’s and Uncrewed RIB’s with 50cal mounted on Save the Royal Navy, including a UAV called the T-150 which is capable of deploying Remus 100 USV. The article also states that there is a larger version of the T-150 being developed to deploy a Sting Ray torpedo!

        Check out the photos at the end of the article.

        https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/hms-tamar-on-the-thames-the-royal-navys-newest-warship-on-show-in-london/

        Cheers CR

        • Thanks CR, I had seen the STRN piece and it is interesting. I’d seen discussion on the Malloy UAVs before, but I hadn’t previously seen mention of UK forces using the Ghost, Anvil and UVision products.

          What I find intriguing in the potential of a UAV like Rhaegal RG-1 is that it slots nicely between the larger fixed wing UAVs like the USN’s MQ-25 Stingray aerial refueling drone or say Taranis and the rotary UAVs of the Malloy Aeronautics T-150. Offering much greater payload, range and endurance, not only for the RN applications but perhaps also for Army logistics support.

          • Hi Glass Half Full (feels quite odd saying Hi to a half full glass 🙂 ),

            Anyway, back to UAV’s. I think the current rapid development of UAV’s could have a significant impact on the design of future surface vessels. I wonder whether the T26 / T31 will still be as appropriate as I suspect UAV’s deploying sensors, weapons and other Autonomous Vehicles will great increase the reach of major platforms.

            As you point out logistics could see huge benefits from UAV’s and if linked into an integrated logistics system then you could conceive a semi autonomous logistics system, reducing troop numbers in a supply chain.

            The changes that this technology could bring could be revolutionary and could happen sooner than we could have imagined just a few years ago. This process could be getting a strong push from Covid-19 as one side effect of the pandemic is a rapid take up of digital working practices…

            Interesting times.

            Cheers CR

          • Hi CR – Well as long as you were the one that imbibed the first half of your poison of choice then its almost like saying hello to an old friend 🙂

            Definitely interesting times. We now have the five domains of air, sea, land, space and cyber with the last two looking to become extremely important. It also seems like we are seeing major changes across all of the domains in technology and the way combat is likely to take place in future. The US seem to be pursuing unmanned or optionally manned surface ships for their navy. Another example is probable RN use of a range of UUVs including XLUUV rather than AIP subs to significantly expand long range, long endurance under-sea surveillance. It was interesting that Ben Wallace recently stated that a major focus of the upcoming review was space, cyber and then he specifically called out the sub-domain of sub-sea.

  15. According to The Drive blog “A total of 15 fighter jets from the Royal Air Force’s No 617 Squadron “Dambusters” and the U.S. Marines Corps’ Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, the “Wake Island Avengers,” are now on the carrier, together with eight Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Merlin helicopters. The jets began to arrive on the carrier yesterday, September 22, 2020, and the photos released today show 14 F-35Bs on the flight deck, ten from the U.S. Marines Corps, and four from the RAF. This suggests that one additional British aircraft is either yet to embark or was in the ship’s hangar deck when the pictures were taken.”

  16. Biggest 5th gen air group in the world. That has a very nice ring to it ???? And this is still just the very beginning of carrier strike. We have barely scratched the surface of what this combination of aircraft and vessel can do. And both will have a very long career. Both will be continually updated and developed. And we will be doing things in 10 years time that we can barely dream about today.

  17. I understand it’s 14 jets, 7 from each nation, but more might join as the exercise develops. 24 still planned for next year, and 24 all Britsh F35’s for 2023. 36 will come one day, Crowsnest will come. Chinooks, Apache, Wildcat, UAV’s. Other nations F35B’s. The potential is huge. ????????

    • I believe the 24 for next year no longer applies. The number embarked will actually be smaller. 617 will not commit to putting 12 on board . I note the QE has still not received all her PhLanx or 30mm mounts???. POW already has her full Phalanx fit???
      .

      • Yeah, 12-14 will be the norm, the numbers will depend on the exercise/deployment requirements, 36 will be a surge conditions. But they will have to prove they can do it, once the aircraft numbers are available. ?

    • “… and 24 all Britsh F35’s for 2023”.

      I think it’s just possible that there might have been some slippage on that 2023 date. I remember reading an interview with 1SL a while ago now, maybe 6 months or even a year ago, where he had a catchy little sound bite in his interview – “24 by 24” which he explained as encapsulating one of the milestones of the work up of UK carrier strike being the goal of being able to field 24 UK aircraft on a carrier by 2024. Now admittedly “24 by 23” doesn’t sound as snappy and getting to 24 deployable UK F35s in 2023 would technically still qualify as “by 2024” so perhaps I’m reading too much into that interview but the 1SL’s explicit reference to 2024 makes me a bit nervous about the 2023 milestone holding good. Hopefully I’m wrong.

  18. I wonder what the USMC air componant thinks about the QE and her capabilities. It would be intresting to find out especially as the QE is designed for 5th Gen aircraft.

  21. There is video of a USMC F-35B taking off from QE on Save the Royal Navy. I wonder if the marines are going to adopt the Shipborne Rolling Verticle Landing technique whilst deployed with the RN?

    Cheers CR

  23. Will this all be put in jeopardy if Biden wins and feels like we need to give away some other cultural artefact to a.n.other or if Britain decides to prioritise Northern Ireland at the inconvenience to the Republic or the EU or if he decided to push some other cultural-political ideology he wants on us?

    Biden and sadly the current crop of Democrats are not Britain’s friends – we need to be wary about who wins in November.

    • Oh really, and Trump is….! The USA does not have friends, only interests! Special relationship…..in a pig’s backside! Ask them if they are going to repatriate Ms Sacoolas to face trial for manslaughter. Meanwhile they have the cheek to petition for Assange’s extradition. Lets stop playing Festus to the US’ Matt Dillon….it’s sickening!

      • I think one can say, and maybe you agree, that the SR is on various levels, all varying in the level of fairness and what the nations get out of it.

        On the level of intelligence for example the link is vital to the UK, in the raw data we access. To the US maybe not so much, except for what they get regards access to bases world wide, which they needed from our remnants of empire. Also the UKs cryptographic skills, which are often ahead of NSA. One often hears the saying, that they have the money, we have the brains.

        There are other areas of mutual benefit in the fields of R&D, nuclear research, CBRN research, submarines, special forces, and aviation advances.

        All these make the relationship worth it in my opinion.

        On a purely political level, yes, it stinks! Gary Mckinnon, and as you say the Sacoolas situation are examples. Sacoolas is especially unfortunate as both of them are NSA or CIA officers, which made the usual impossible extradition situation regarding US citizens even worse.

        • Yes, it isn’t that far off from Russia’s response to the Salisbury poisonings….Okay, so what are you going to do about it….nice friends! Whilst I accept that there are some clear advantages to cooperation, I think that the French have the right idea. Brexit, supposedly was all about national sovereignty….well, let’s bloody-well see some.

      • My statement didn’t imply that. But, yes Trump puts America and its citizens first that is his raison d’etre. That being said he does also seem to be an Anglophile, is an Aberdonian business man and has supported us in our attempts to leave the EU.
        Obama, Pelosi and Biden all made threats against us regarding trade, made it clear they thought we shouldn’t leave the EU and seem to have sided with them in our negotiations appertaining the Republic of Ireland.
        So you may be right that we do not have a real friendship with the US but at least under Tump they’re not our frenemy. I can see that changing with a Democratic presidency and if they do get back in to power they won’t do anything different re: extradition.

  24. Yes agree Daniele!
    Hi folks hope are all well.
    This is great news and good pics too. Yes I was wondering how the media is going to report this if at all? We may be surprised.
    Fantastic to both UK and US alongside each other, the media will no doupt will be negative about this saying the UK does not have many 35b’s not factoring the matter that interoperation has always been the intention from the concept of the carrier’s opperarion if required.
    Wonder what the reaction of Rusia and China is? Please correct me if I’m wrong, is this going to be the same strike force going to the South China Sea?
    Cheers
    George

      • I used to work on an RN hydrographic vessel in the 1970s. When the budgie pilot had had a particularly exhausting day he would enter the wardroom walking on his hands…carefully negotiating the bulkhead at the main door. On the occasion that I witnessed, he did a circuit of the wardroom, where off duty staff were enjoying a drink and catching up with the papers, farted very loudly and left through the same door on his hands. Nobody said a word or even made the slightest acknowledgement of his presence! Dear old Andrew…..they are bloody mad….the lot of them!

      • It’s got nothing to with growing up. The US made a public statement that they would not trust UK to guard its forces again after the camp attack in Iraq/Afgan (can’t remember which).

        • The only incident I can think of was the raid on bastion in afghan, ironically enough one of the Squadrons involved in that raid was VMA-211.
          Though I don’t recall the public statement to that effect, which would’ve been pretty unjustified since the USMC was also guarding the permiter and the poor state of the perimiter defence the USMC had resulted in the fireing of two US generals.

    • Hi Steve. This is an exercise off Scotland, not hardcore war fighting in some far off ocean. RN T45’s have provided air defence cover to USN Nitmitz class carriers in the gulf before, and on high profile exercises. We have done the same for the French. So they very much trust the RN escort fleet.

      • The t45 provided air defense along side the US cruiser and AB that were also in the task force. They were not relying on the t45, and in that case i wouldn’t’ blame them not doing so considering the reliability issues.

        • US carriers always deploy with more than one escort. So that’s a none starter. And US ships can and do brake down occasionally too. It has nothing to do with reliability, capability, or reputation. Very much the opposite in fact. T45 is one of the most capable destroyers in the world, and the USN would be more than happy to use it’s capabilities.

      • For sure they don’t. I suspect the military guys might do, but its political like everything else when it comes to military deployments. Just like it is embarrassing for us to be seen to need US jets to get us out of the hole of ordering carriers with insufficient jets, it also applies the same way for the USMC, i suspect they won’t want the optics of them needing to use a foreign carrier / escorts.

  28. My quick maths on the previous story seeing that no US carrier had sailed with more than 13 F-35 onboard and QE was sailing with more was right. Wonder if someone at the RN press office read my post 😛

    • Mark. 617 is a mixed squadron, RAF with both dark blue and light blue pilots, and the current CO is an RN Commander, which really is a first. The next squadron to stand up will I think be 809, which will be nominally FAA, but again with a mix of pilots. I don’t know about the maintainers.

  30. Great sight ??. A couple of quezzies from an ex army bod….

    Do the USMC F-35s have a different mission to ours? Ie CAS rather than Strike and Fleet Defence? With a different weapons fit?

    I’m guessing this is the biggest deck the USMC jockeys have been on? Or do they interact with the CVN’s?

    • USMC F35s will be under British command when stationed on a QE carrier but any ops can be veto’d by a US officer on board.

      The USMC also has Super Hornet and F35C squadrons which operate off of the Nimitz class (and soon to be Fords) so not quite the biggest carriers they’ve been on but certainly close (4 acres to 4.5)

  32. Been out of town with no comms so have just returned to see this wonderful rebirth of RN Carrier power. QE’s decks do look remarkably empty but that must be a huge plus for air ops, general handling and turn around times!

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