HMS Queen Elizabeth welcomes UK and US jets for major exercise
The Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth has embarked the largest number of fighter aircraft onto her deck as she prepares to take her place at the heart of a UK-led NATO Carrier Strike Group.
Two squadrons of F-35B stealth jets, the RAF’s 617 Squadron (The Dambusters) and the US Marines Corps VMFA-211 (The Wake Island Avengers), have joined the 65,000-tonne carrier as she sails for exercises with allies in the North Sea.
A 23 September Royal Navy statement said that with a total of 14 fighter aircraft and eight Merlin helicopters, it’s the largest concentration of fighter jets to operate at sea from a Royal Navy carrier since HMS Hermes in 1983, and the ‘largest air group of fifth generation fighters at sea anywhere in the world’.
In this month’s group exercise, HMS Queen Elizabeth will be joined by seven Royal Navy destroyers, frigates and auxiliaries, plus other supporting units, to form a fully sovereign Carrier Strike Group.
Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said the group would be put through its paces off the north east coast of Scotland as part of Joint Warrior, NATO’s largest annual exercise.
‘The United Kingdom’s maritime renaissance has been unfolding over many years, as we introduced a new generation of ships, submarines and aircraft into service. But this marks the first time we have brought them together in a cohesive, potent, fighting force,’ Moorhouse said.
Usually based in Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, in Arizona, VMFA-211 arrived in the UK just under two weeks ago. Landing at the home of the Lightning Force, RAF Marham after the trans-Atlantic flight, they worked up with 617 Squadron conducting the RAF led Exercise Point Blank before embarking in the carrier.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![South Korea displays domestic technology capabilities with KSS-III submarine launch]()
South Korea displays domestic technology capabilities with KSS-III submarine launch
Hanwha Ocean’s Jang Yeong-sil is the Republic of Korea Navy’s first 3,600t submarine and is the first of three boats in the military’s KSS-III programme.
-
![ST Engineering Marine expands capacity, seeks regional partners for growth]()
ST Engineering Marine expands capacity, seeks regional partners for growth
The company could be looking to collaborate with other Asian nations as well as countries further afield as it pushes ahead with its shipyard expansion plans.
-
![US Navy approaches the award of a follow-on contract for Aegis production]()
US Navy approaches the award of a follow-on contract for Aegis production
Naval Sea Systems Command intends to grant a production agreement for the Aegis Weapon System covering the FY2026-FY2030 period.
-
![AUKUS update: Australian sovereignty is “paramount” as Trump declares “full steam ahead”]()
AUKUS update: Australian sovereignty is “paramount” as Trump declares “full steam ahead”
AUKUS has been under the spotlight this week as US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had their first face-to-face meeting.
-
![US Navy acquires additional Most Aggressive Features for Virginia-class submarines]()
US Navy acquires additional Most Aggressive Features for Virginia-class submarines
A follow-on contract awarded to Collins covers the supply of up to eight MAFs to be delivered from 2027.
