The new Labour Government has confirmed that the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, will be deployed to the Indo-Pacific region in 2025.
This announcement reaffirms plans laid out under the previous Conservative Government.
In a parliamentary question asked by James Cartlidge, Conservative MP for South Suffolk, on 17th July 2024, the status of the deployment was queried.
Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, confirmed on 25th July 2024 that the Ministry plans to proceed with the deployment. “Yes, the Ministry of Defence plans to deploy HMS Prince of Wales to the Indo-Pacific in 2025,” Pollard stated.
Earlier this year, under the Conservative Government, Grant Shapps highlighted the strategic importance of such deployments. He detailed that sending HMS Prince of Wales to the Indo-Pacific was intended to send a strong message against any attempts to undermine the rules-based international order.
“In an increasingly volatile world where we can no longer take peace for granted, it’s critical to stand united with our allies and partners in defence of democracy and freedom,” Shapps had said.
HMS Prince of Wales will lead the UK Carrier Strike Group in a series of operations and exercises, including a port visit to Japan. The mission is designed to enhance defence relationships and demonstrate UK commitment to the Indo-Pacific. Shapps had noted the significance of joint exercises in conveying the UK’s readiness to respond to global threats and support free trade and travel.
This deployment follows the precedent set by HMS Queen Elizabeth, which led the 2021 Carrier Strike Group on a journey covering 55,000 nautical miles from the eastern Atlantic to Japan and back.
During that deployment, the armed forces engaged diplomatically with over 40 nations, underscoring the importance of maintaining a global naval presence.
Hi folks hope all is well.
Great news, I would be surprised if the government would cancel after all of the publicity about defence and the UKs commitment they (Labour) keep reminding us.
I guess the CSG will be accompanied by others. Wonder if the US will add a carrier to the group, you experts can advise of this probability.
Cheers
George
Probably a squadron of USM F35Bs to make up for the lack of our numbers of Aircraft .Can’t see an injection of any new F35s soon ,but one can hope again or pray 🙏
We will have 48 F-35B by next year and are deploying 24.
24 Lightnings from 617 Squadron and 809 NAS will be embarked on HMS Prince of Wales next year, plus around a dozen Merlins and maybe a couple of Wildcats too for good measure. Expect more arrivals of F35B Lightnings from the Italian and Japanese Navies..
“Probably a squadron of USM F35Bs to make up for the lack of our numbers of Aircraft…”
I hope Not, I will hope for an all UK Squadron at sea, even if it means leasing a few F-35s for home overland operations.
Zero chance of the USN adding a CVN to CSG25! But its almost certain that the TG will exercise with USN CSG’s and ARG’s. To a considerable extent the USN treated CSG-21 like an American carrier deployment and provided a huge amount of assistance, logistical and other support. Covid made access by CSG-21 to USN replenishments ships and shore facilities in Guam essential. The level of co-operation was undoubtedly enhanced by the fact that CSG-21 included a very substantial American element – a USN destroyer (USS The Sullivans), a squadron of 10 USMC F-35’s (VFMA-211), a contingent of US Navy aviation ordnance specialists,… Read more »
Strange tidings indeed. USN exercises as it intends to conduct warfare. Believe CSG-21 was the prototype model for future ops. Have read no article re any revision of baseline doctrine. Plans could be w/held for OPSEC reasons. Or, other commitments may have a higher priority. RN should be able to conduct ops solo everywhere except the SCS. Presume there will be an USAF and/or USN force w/in combat radius while CSG-25 w/in SCS. 🤔
Realistically CSG25 is unlikely to be numerically as strong as CSG21, particularly if a purely UK formation. E.g. embarking same number (18) F-35B’s from the two RAF/FAA front-line squadrons will be very challenging, whilst the provision of three air defence destroyers (from a total force of 6) by the RN seems impossible. We really need a few allies offering a ship for CSG25 ASAP.
Also, any freedom of passage of CSG25 through the South China Sea will surely be contingent on the USN providing a CSG as a de-facto distant escort.
I expect about 18 UK F35B’s, 2 x T45, 2 x T23 and an SSN, plus helo and RFA support.
I think deploying 24 F35B on anything other than short term exercise, or operational deployment will be really vexing.
The MoD could easily lease a few F-35s.
Essentially agree, although have read that the basic CSG consists of CV, 2 DDGs, 2 FFGs (ASW variant), 1 tanker, 1 solid stores replenishment vessel and an Astute.
Potentially, FONOPS in SCS could vary anywhere between a benign non-event and ops slightly below open warfare threshold. Generally believe it is better to be locked, loaded and ready to rock before venturing down some alleys. 😳
24 F35B’s will embark. 12 from 809 Naval Air Squadron and 12 from 617 Squadron RAF. Expect to see also, Italian and Japanese Lightnings operating from the ship.
Excellent news. But can you please quote your source for the embarkation of 24 UK F-35Bs?
Navy Lookout. Article is here. Scroll down… https://www.navylookout.com/examining-the-state-of-the-uk-carrier-strike-capability/ …. Here’s the quote: The intention for the 2025 deployment is to carry a substantial all-British air group comprising 24 F-35s and around 14 Merlins. Activity this year should see progression towards fielding this very credible air group.
Navy Lookout. Scroll down. https://www.navylookout.com/809-naval-air-squadron-returns-to-the-skies/ Quote from article: Full Operating Capability for the two frontline squadrons is scheduled for 2025 and the RN has previously stated it expects to embark 24 UK jets on HMS Prince of Wales for the global deployment next year.
Sorry but I just don’t believe that POW will be embarking 24 UK owned F-35B’s for CSG25. I will apologise sincerely to you and others if (as usual) I prove to be wrong, and leave a tenner in a RNLI mine!
A Tenner for the RNLI would be very much welcomed. 🙂
I’m not sure how many F35b’s Italian have right now but I’m sure they have at least four on their own carrier in the indo pacific at the moment which will need an extended maintenance piriod when they get back but let’s hope they can transfer their experiences on POW
They will certainly pay a visit to HMS Prince of Wales, which will be something great to see. I think they landed on HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021 as well..
Probably not a carrier, but likely a BMD capable Burke and a squadron of USMC F-35Bs as well if requested, like during CSG 21.
It’ll be interesting to see how fleshed out this CSG is. The one centred on QE in 2021 was pretty sizeable, but even just 3 years ago the RN and RFA were in a better place (better SSN availability, nominally more escorts, fewer tankers laid up).
Getting 24 British F35’s deployed will be a serous stretch!
HMS Prince of Wales on deployment to the Far East to send a strong message. HMS Queen Elizabeth – yes, HMS PoW – not really!
What are you on about?
HMS PoW is just as capable as QE!
Read some history?!!!
I’m presuming it’s a comment relating to history, ie Force Z’s fate.
Good thing there isn’t an HMS Repulse in the navy at the moment!
!!!😂
Plus Japan is a good friend nowdays. Good too we’ve learned to ensure taking our own air cover & some up to date capable SAMs on our escorts.
Yes, at least we won’t have the issue of no carrier to give air cover
They should send a carrier group to the Falklands. Nothing makes a statement to the new Argentine president quite like that
Sure, cause the RN and RFA is in such a good shape to be wasted on a PR stunt…
Like Mark said, a bit of a waste of resources but I would like to see an element of LSG south head to the Falklands with perhaps RFA Argus and a frigate. Good place for drills, especially if the para’s were on rotation there to face the marines.
Hi folks,
Many thanks to those that replied to me with such comprehensive information.
Cheers
George
Great news and is a good sign the new government is serious about the carrier strike group.
I have to say, so far, I am very impressed with the new Government. It was never really in any doubt that HMS Prince of Wales would deploy next year, but nevertheless, it is very reassuring to see it reconfirmed. This is not just about sailing a Carrier task group all the way to the other side of the world, with all the messages it sends to China etc… it is also, and equally importantly about engagement and partnership building with friendly Nations. Japan, for example is buying the F35B, and some have already been delivered. So expect to see… Read more »
Glad to see National military needs rather than purely politics seems to be directing Labour’s defence policy. Defence should be agreed between the major parties in the UK.
Always glad to see us challanging China’s illegal grabbing of overseas teritories & bullying of any neighbours concerned. I’d love to see a RN CSG deploying similarly closer to the eve of an invasion of Taiwan, if we had the right intelligence. Alongside a USN CSG it would have a suitably deterrent effect. I wonder if other East Asian friends will send ships to participate & exercise? Austrailia, Singapore, Japan etc. The modern world is too small to just limit our defence focus on our own hemisphere. We have allies & vital interests with world wide trade routes. Plus there’s… Read more »
Have they made a decision about transitting the Suez-Gulf with this CSG 2025? It’ll potentially be a huge shooting galley opportunity for the Houthis and whoever else is anti-West. Sure hope there’s the extra CAMM on the T45s, even a T31 available, more defensive armaments and decoys on the Carriers and RFA’s and sub(s) already in the Gulf beforehand. Said by many here, a few more useful T31s wouldn’t break the budget and then some could easily be spread or based beyond the Gulf area.
CSG21 was planned for years in advance. CSG25 will be the same. The RN will have been moving vessels into planned maintenance and refit over the past few years to ensure that the vessels are available to deploy and equally important that vessels remaining in the UK are also equally available. Same goes for aircraft and crew. You dont do these things off the cuff you plan ahead. Why are the subs alongside doing maintenance? Why are T45s and T23s in maintenance/refit? When are ships going to FOST? Prior planning for CSFG25 The big issue will be the solid support… Read more »
Will CSG25 be the last swan-song of carrier strike – POW arriving back at Portsmouth in Nov or Dec 2025 to be decommissioned? It’s becoming clear that the carrier haters see the Defence Review as great opportunity to finally kill off the the RN’s carrier ambitions. The ideal solution for them, and Treasury bean counters, would be Australia now pro-actively offering a few £billion for the two carriers and all of the UK F-35B’s – attempting to get the bargain of the century. Selling off the two QECs, running down the [now only land-based Lightening force, and cancelling the FSS ships will… Read more »