Royal Navy commissions HMS Prince of Wales
The Royal Navy commissioned HMS Prince of Wales into the fleet on 10 December at HM Naval Base Portsmouth.
HMS Prince of Wales is marginally larger and heavier than sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The carrier departed Rosyth in September and carried out first sea trials before making its first entry to Portsmouth harbour in mid-November.
HMS Queen Elizabeth has recently returned from its second deployment to the east coast of North America conducting aviation trials with UK F-35 jets and developing its combat capabilities.
Both carriers are currently alongside in Portsmouth for routine maintenance before resuming their programmes to reach operational capability.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Industrial teams prepare roadmap for Indonesia aircraft carrier transformation]()
Industrial teams prepare roadmap for Indonesia aircraft carrier transformation
Fincantieri and PT PAL have agreed on a framework to modernise the former Giuseppe Garibaldi, with drones, communications and broader Italian–Indonesian industrial ties involved.
-
![Five years on: where could opportunities emerge next for AUKUS Pillar II?]()
Five years on: where could opportunities emerge next for AUKUS Pillar II?
Payload commonality, combat systems and electronic warfare are emerging as likely priorities as the trilateral partnership balances building submarines with sharing industrial ecosystems.
-
![Singapore expands maritime presence with future-ready Sentinel OPV]()
Singapore expands maritime presence with future-ready Sentinel OPV
Singapore is building space for uncrewed systems and future technologies into its new Sentinel-class OPVs, reflecting a wider move towards adaptable vessels capable of maintaining persistent maritime presence.
-
![From the Baltic to the Gulf: where USV procurement is heading next]()
From the Baltic to the Gulf: where USV procurement is heading next
Saildrone’s new Copenhagen base is one sign of a larger shift, as navies globally turn to uncrewed vessels for surveillance and mine clearance.
-
![Israeli Navy looks to expand as war reshapes future force requirements]()
Israeli Navy looks to expand as war reshapes future force requirements
Israel’s navy is preparing for a larger and more technically diverse role, but its ambitions could be impacted by supply chain restrictions, accelerating demand for domestic naval production as well as autonomous maritime capabilities.
