UK-Japan meeting resolves details of Carrier Group operations
The newly-designated Royal Navy Flagship, HMS Prince of Wales (left) with HMS Queen Elizabeth. (Photo: Royal Navy/Crown Copyright)
Exercise Vigilant Isles, the latest combined training deployment of UK and Japanese troops, began on 15 January. The exercise coincided with a meeting of UK and Japanese defence secretaries to commit to strengthened defence ties between the two countries.
The UK is currently the only European nation to conduct bilateral military exercises on Japanese soil, and 2025 will see the third year of those exercises.
Exercise Vigilant Isles will see more than 100 UK soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade, the British Army’s global response force, train with Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces on the island of Kyushu. The exercise is expected to increase interoperability between both countries’ forces.
Related Articles
Turning the Hiroshima Accord into Action: Enhancing UK-Japan Defence Collaboration (Studio)
While much of the discussion at the ministerial meeting centred on GCAP, the Global Combat Air Programme, details were also hammered out for the flagship deployment of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group to Japan later in the year.
The Carrier Strike Group, comprised of the Royal Navy flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, its escorts and aircraft, will work alongside the Japanese Self Defense Forces and other partners to help defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. They will conduct a series of operations and exercises, including a port visit in Japan.
The HMS Prince of Wales is one of only two vessels in the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth class. The other, the HMS Queen Elizabeth deployed to the Indo-Pacific region in 2021. The Royal Navy also has persistently-deployed Offshore Patrol Vessels, the HMS Tamar and HMS Spey (both Batch 2 River Class), operating closely with Japan and its regional partners to promote maritime security in the region.
At the meeting, UK Defence Secretary John Healey stressed the indivisibility between Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security in his talks with Defence Minister Gen Nakatani.
“With increasing instability across the world, it is more important than ever that we strengthen cooperation with our international partners like Japan,” Healey said.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Coast Guard awards contracts for the construction of up to 150 aids to navigation vessels
Agreements with Inventech Marine Solutions and North River Boats cover the acquisition of trailerable aids to navigation boats and cutter boats - aids to navigation – small.
-
US Navy confirms MQ-25 Stingray first flight tests for this year
The system will be the world’s first operational, carrier-based unmanned aircraft, according to the US Navy.
-
BAE Systems selected for multi-billion-dollar Norway ship order
BAE Systems is leading the construction of eight Type 26 City-class anti-submarine frigates for the UK Royal Navy (RN) with the first of these expected to enter service in 2027. Norway’s selection of the type makes it the fourth to make the choice alongside Australia, Canada and the UK.