Separated by 7,000 miles, HMS Prince of Wales in the North Sea and HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Pacific have been launching and recovering F-35B Lightning stealth strike fighters on round-the-clock sorties.
Until now, the ships have embarked the fifth-generation jets but never have the two 65,000-tonne carriers launched the fighters from their flight decks at the same time.
That has now changed, with HMS Prince of Wales exercising with 207 Squadron in waters close to the UK, while, on the other side of the world, HMS Queen Elizabeth carried out flying operations over the Pacific with 617 Dambusters Squadron, and VMFA-211 of the US Marine Corps.
"It’s brilliant to see F3-5s operating from our flight deck and to have our friends and colleagues from the RAF and the Army on board with us. UK Carrier Strike is, at its heart, an inherently joint venture and one that is going fantastically well. We already see 207 Squadron as part of the HMS Prince of Wales team and they have brought alive our latest training package by simultaneously conducting F-35 pilot qualifications."
Captain Steve Higham
Commanding Officer
RAF Marham based 207 Squadron is the Operational Conversion Unit and has undertaken carrier qualifications training for pilots while the ship is going through its own training programme.
"This embarkation marks the start of 207 Squadron’s affiliation with the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers for decades to come. Developing our relationship with the ship’s company, who have been very welcoming, has enabled us to re-qualify our pilots in operations at sea ensuring that they can continue to train the next generation and grow the UK’s maritime strike capability."
Wing Commander Scott Williams
Officer Commanding 207 Squadron
HMS Queen Elizabeth meanwhile is fresh from exercises with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and a port visit to Yokosuka, which was a key moment in the Carrier Strike Group deployment.
The Carrier Strike Group deployment has taken the aircraft carrier and her supporting warships across the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Oceans and into the Pacific, working with allies and partners along the way flying the flag for Global Britain.
"The level of flying we have achieved so far on this deployment has allowed us the chance to really build our experience and understanding with the F-35B and maritime operations. It has been fantastic to be able to work with other nations and other aircraft, including squadrons of F-35Bs from the US and F-35As from Japan. We have taken massive leaps forward in learning how to maximise this fifth generation capability in Carrier Strike and it is great to see 207 Squadron and HMS Prince Of Wales continuing to build this."
Commander Mark Sparrow
Officer Commanding 617 Squadron
