Operation Firecrest will see the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group deployed into the North Atlantic this year to further boost regional security.
The U.K. Government has announced it will dispatch a flotilla led by aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales into the North Atlantic and High North later in 2026.
The deployment will form part of NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission, launched this week, to improve maritime security in the region. The ships will sail alongside U.S. vessels and U.S. jets are expected to operate from the flight deck of the British carrier, which will also conduct a port visit on America’s east coast.
Defence Secretary John Healey commented: “This deployment will help make Britain warfighting ready, boost our contribution to NATO, and strengthen our operations with key allies.”
He added: “Operation Firecrest will involve thousands of personnel from all three services of the Armed Forces, demonstrating Britain’s ability to project force wherever it is needed and operate seamlessly within NATO.
“The Carrier Strike Group will exercise alongside NATO’s Standing Naval Maritime Group 1, itself being led by the U.K., with HMS Dragon acting as the command ship of the NATO maritime group throughout 2026.”
Last year the CSG carried out Operation Highmast, an eight-month mission to the Indo-Pacific, which resulted in the UK’s Carrier Strike Group being certified fully ‘mission ready.’
It involved activities with over 30 nations, with the CSG participating in Exercise Neptune Strike under NATO command in the Mediterranean.
It later carried out further exercises and port visits in India and the Indian Ocean, with partners including the U.S., India, Singapore, and Malaysia, and it linked up with 19 partner nations for Exercise Talisman Sabre in and around Australia.
The CSG also visited Japan, and trained alongside the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, before heading back home, taking part in further exercises en route.
- You can read more details about Operation Firecrest on the U.K. Ministry of Defence website