British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is to sail to the Arctic Circle to support a multinational mission, it has been revealed.

The vessel is being deployed to act as an emergency landing option should a specific but classified cargo aircraft require its usage.

Other commentators have noted that that the loading of provisions would be unusual as the craft is rumoured to be elf-sufficient and shouldn’t need anything else.

Part of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s previous trials involved the fitting of STOVL (Sleigh Take Off and Vixen Landing) equipment allowing for this kind of aircraft to land and take-off from the carrier.

Sources in the region were keen to stress that this special cargo mission is being supported by both NATO and Russian assets.

We understand that the undisclosed cargo is to be revealed nationwide on the morning of the 25th of this month.

According to Foreign Office spokesman Nicholas Cringle:

“We’ve received a request for assistance to support a multi-national air transport mission being launched from a currently undisclosed location within the Arctic Circle. As such, HMS Queen Elizabeth is being redirected to provide emergency provisions and a ‘back up’ option should the cargo aircraft involved need to land and refuel.”

This comes not long after it was announced that the Royal Air Force is on high alert this month in order to track cargo flights from the Arctic region.

RAF on high alert due to increased activity in Arctic

An MoD spokesman had this to say:

“Interception is part of what the QRA force do. We have to identify and confirm who or what is flying through our airspace or approaching our airspace and since the craft appears at the same time each year, we have a fairly good idea who will be flying but we don’t take any chances.”

The Ministry of Defence used satellites with infra-red sensors to track the aircraft last time this happened, it is understood that the heat from an animals red nose was clearly visible and it was at this point RAF aircraft began escorting the bright red aircraft over every British city, town and village.

UPDATE: We understand the provisions HMS Queen Elizabeth has been loaded with include Brandy and small biscuits.

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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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Captain P Wash
Captain P Wash
3 years ago

Hmmmm let me guess……..

Geoff
Geoff
3 years ago

Maybe it could bring some food over from Europe instead…

Colin
Colin
3 years ago

Perhaps if he lands the crew could order a lot of buckets one for each member of the crew just in case they need to do some bailing

ChariotRider
ChariotRider
3 years ago

Lovely picture… 🙂

M. Murat AlbayrakoÄŸlu
M. Murat AlbayrakoÄŸlu
3 years ago

Operation Rudolph 🙂

ben
ben
3 years ago

Sleigh Take Off and Vixen Landing? Were you writing this on your iPhone?

Derek
Derek
3 years ago

I had no idea that Reindeer were STOVL capable. Then I thought … how do think they land on and take off from a roof you dummy! ?

AV
AV
3 years ago
Reply to  Derek

Should have been fitted with cats and traps…increased payload and extended range etc etc..going to be costly to retrofit and will be out of service for some time..but then again if the man in red had bought two sleighs he could have at least had one in constant use……

John Hartley
John Hartley
3 years ago

Dear Santa, HM Treasury has been dishing out lots & lots of money this year. Please can it have 2300 tons of gold bullion (400 ounce bars) to bring it back to the reserves it had in the 1960s. I have been good this year (much against my will). Ta very much.