The Ministry of Defence has "not yet made funding available for enough Lightning II jets to sustain Carrier Strike operations over its life", say the National Audit Office.

The NAO have identified risks to the development of UK carrier strike capabilities relating to the 18 month delay in the delivery of the Crowsnest airborne radar system.

The success of these trials could determine whether the Royal Navy decides to upgrade or procure an entire fleet of such craft. This could include their adoption on future classes of warships, such as the Type 26 or Type 31 frigate.

The Royal Navy say that the use of unmanned air vehicles in the logistics role offers a range of advantages from reduced costs, missions being completed quicker and the ship’s company not being exposed to certain risks.

HMS Queen Elizabeth and her aircraft have been joined by frigate HMS Kent and a nuclear submarine while on Exercise Crimson Ocean.

Major vessels can now berth at the UK’s base in Bahrain.

Frigate HMS Westminster and patrol ship HMS Tyne monitored the passage of the Russian Destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov as it passed south through the English Channel.

Saab conducted the first tests with the Saab Lightweight Torpedo from a corvette and a submarine.

The MoD have signed a £26.7m contract with British company EP Barrus to supply and maintain outboard and inboard motors fitted to the MOD’s small boats fleet.

HMS Kent and HMS Ramsey were part of Exercise BALTOPS in the Baltic Sea.