British forces prepare for HMS Queen Elizabeth
UK Royal Navy and Royal Marine vessels and personnel are taking part in NATO Exercise Saxon Warrior off the coast of Scotland as part of work to prepare for the arrival of the navy’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The task group includes two Type 23 frigates, HMS Westminster and HMS Iron Duke of the Royal Navy, working with the US Navy’s carrier, USS George HW Bush, destroyer USS Donald Cook, missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea and the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad.
The UK Carrier Strike Group has been directing jets, firepower and personnel across the task group for the last ten days to ensure full readiness for the UK’s own carrier strike capability.
The strike group has been working with its US counterparts to fight off a series of simulated threats from enemy forces, using all the air, surface and sub-surface assets of the entire task group. The threats have been specifically designed to test the UK personnel’s reactions for coordinating a response.
There are 15 ships from across NATO taking part throughout the exercise with more than 100 aircraft and nearly 10,000 personnel.
More from Training
-
Royal Jordanian Air Force takes delivery of five new Bell 505 aircraft at Farnborough
The five helicopters complete an order of 10 Bell 505s placed in 2022.
-
NSPA and Airbus sign mission simulator contract for MRTT fleet at Farnborough
The A3330 MRTT simulator is expected to make simulator training easier and more regulator for both pilots and refuelling operatives.
-
US Navy contracts for EW training flight hours awarded
The electronic warfare (EW) jets contract is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, with work scheduled to begin in August 2024 and completed in August 2029.
-
Rheinmetall receives rocket order from German armed forces for Tiger helicopters
The Tiger attack helicopter was developed for the French and German armies, prior to also being procured by Spain and Australia, with a total of 185 ordered. Germany, however, has planned to retire its 55-strong fleet.
-
How US marines and sailors trained for humanitarian assistance in Indo-Pacific region
US Marine Corps and US Navy personnel enhanced their humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities during a training exercise in Papua New Guinea.