HMS Queen Elizabeth to begin F-35B trials
The Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has departed for the US to carry out flight trials with F-35B fighter jets, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on 18 August.
The deployment, known as ‘WESTLANT 18’, will be the first-time HMS Queen Elizabeth will have sailed across the Atlantic.
During its trip to the US, the 65,000-tonne carrier will embark two F-35B test aircraft based out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, which are expected to carry out 500 take offs and landings during the carrier’s 11 weeks at sea.
The aim of these developmental trials is to ascertain the operating parameters of the aircraft and ship, in a range of conditions. Similar successful trials were conducted by HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea earlier in 2018 for rotary wing aircraft.
The trials follow the recent arrival into the UK of the first F-35B jets, based at RAF Marham. Operational testing usingBritish F-35B aircraft are scheduled to take place on board Queen Elizabeth in 2019.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![A400M trial demonstrates airborne deployment of uncrewed surface vessel]()
A400M trial demonstrates airborne deployment of uncrewed surface vessel
Kraken Technology Group’s A400M airdrop of a K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel points to a new way for navies to insert USVs into contested waters, bypassing ports and motherships.
-
![From the seas to the web: the changing shape of UK defence in Southeast Asia]()
From the seas to the web: the changing shape of UK defence in Southeast Asia
As his final engagement before leaving his post as the head of the British defence staff for Southeast Asia and defence adviser to Singapore, Brigadier Eddie Maskell-Pedersen spoke with Shephard about maritime security, cyber cooperation and long-term partnerships.
-
![Naval primes dive into an underwater acquisition gold rush]()
Naval primes dive into an underwater acquisition gold rush
A cluster of acquisitions by Fincantieri, Thales, Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall points to a race to secure underwater warfare, autonomy and sensing capability.
-
![Baltic naval priorities shift towards mine warfare and versatile platforms]()
Baltic naval priorities shift towards mine warfare and versatile platforms
Baltic states are investing in mine warfare, uncrewed systems and multirole platforms as major warship purchases remain scarce, industry sources indicate.
