Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales is leading her Carrier Strike Group in preparations for a second Mediterranean NATO-led exercise, Neptune Strike.
The aircraft carrier and her air wing of F-35 fighter jets have just completed the first of two major Mediterranean workouts under NATO command, Exercise Falcon Strike.
And as per a Royal Navy press statement, during Falcon Strike the CSG was declared to have “reached Full Operating Capability — meaning all its component parts are ready to operate on front-line duties wherever required.”
Day and night missions assigned during this period included simulated strikes, air interdictions, and enemy defences suppression, as well as defending CSG ships from incoming attacks.
During Falcon Strike the 24 F-35B jets operating from the flagship collectively flew nearly 50 sorties alongside Italian, Greek, French and U.S. aircraft.
The twin Mediterranean exercises under NATO command come towards the end of the CSG’s eight-month Operation Highmast deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. Italian frigate ITS Luigi Rizzo joined the flotilla, which currently includes HMS Richmond, HMS Dauntless and Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen among others.
Over the last few weeks Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless has also been operating with Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) and HMS Richmond has conducted a port visit to Durres in Albania.
Off Naples U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper hosted their Italian counterparts on board HMS Prince of Wales for defence talks.
Mr Healey said: “This is a proud moment for Britain. The UK is stepping up for European security and delivering on our NATO-first plan.”
He added: “Our strength comes from hard power and strong alliances, so it is fitting to mark this moment alongside one of our closest NATO allies in Italy. Their F-35s have been operating from the carrier to demonstrate the deep partnership between our militaries.”
- You can read more details on the Royal Navy website and the U.K. MoD website