Exclusive: UK Aircraft Carrier Strike Group spearheads largest-ever British military engagement in Australia.

In a significant display of joint military strength and technological innovation, the United Kingdom has deployed its Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25) to lead the British contribution to Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, the largest multinational military exercise ever conducted on Australian soil. This high-profile engagement marks a pivotal moment in the UK’s global deployment strategy, highlighting the nation’s enduring commitment to Indo-Pacific security and deeper cooperation with its AUKUS partners, Australia and the United States. The operation also serves as a key phase of Operation Highmast, the UK's strategic initiative to reinforce international partnerships and project power across critical global regions.
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UK Carrier Strike Group 25, led by British Royal Navy HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, sails alongside allied vessels during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, showcasing integrated naval power with British F-35B jets overhead and Royal Marines conducting amphibious operations along the Australian coast. (Picture source: British MoD)

Over 3,000 British troops from the British Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force are deployed across Australia as part of Operation Highmast, a strategic global mission that underscores Britain’s military reach and enduring Indo-Pacific commitment. CSG25’s participation marks the first time a UK-led multinational carrier group has taken part in the biennial exercise, which this year involves 35,000 personnel from 19 nations, with activities spanning Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, and for the first time, Papua New Guinea.

The Carrier Strike Group 25 represents the British Royal Navy’s premier expeditionary force and the most powerful expression of UK maritime power projection. At its core is HMS Prince of Wales, one of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and among the most advanced warships in the world. Supporting the flagship are Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond, the Type 23 frigate HMS Portland, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels RFA Fort Victoria and RFA Tidesurge. The group is protected from beneath the waves by an Astute-class attack submarine, ensuring multi-domain coverage. The embarked air wing includes F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters, operated by both the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, along with Merlin and Wildcat helicopters supporting anti-submarine warfare, airborne early warning, and maritime strike missions. Royal Marines from 42 Commando and specialized detachments from the British Army and RAF provide additional amphibious, littoral, and airborne capabilities, making CSG25 a highly flexible and lethal task force.

British Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, serving as the flagship of the Carrier Strike Group, is playing a central role in integrating advanced warfighting technologies and multinational cooperation. In a major leap forward for undersea warfare, the Royal Navy, in coordination with its AUKUS allies, is conducting experimental trials with Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (XL-UUVs) operated remotely from shore-based control centers. These trials are designed to push the boundaries of remote naval operations and mark a first-of-its-kind capability demonstration within the AUKUS framework.

In parallel, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), through its Resilience, Autonomy, and AI Technology collaboration, has led a groundbreaking integration of artificial intelligence algorithms into the battlespace. These AI-enabled systems are being trialed in realistic combat scenarios, autonomously detecting and engaging simulated threats. The use of these systems in a coalition environment reflects a significant step toward fully integrated AI-powered warfare, enabling future forces to maintain superiority across complex operational theatres.

The CSG25 is also enhancing joint amphibious operations with Australian and US forces. Royal Marines, operating with Australian amphibious specialists and US Marines, are conducting beach landing and urban warfare simulations. RAF Voyager aircraft are providing strategic airlift and refueling capabilities, while British Army Ranger units train alongside their Indo-Pacific counterparts, reinforcing ground force interoperability in jungle and desert terrains.

The collaboration between the British vy and the Australian Defence Force reflects a strategic alignment in securing one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors. As regional dynamics grow increasingly complex, cooperation between the UK and Australia is essential for ensuring open sea lines of communication, countering grey-zone threats, and deterring state and non-state actors seeking to disrupt international maritime order. For the Royal Navy, operating alongside the Royal Australian Navy in exercises such as Talisman Sabre strengthens combined naval proficiency, enhances operational trust, and supports shared security objectives across the Indo-Pacific. This partnership plays a crucial role in upholding freedom of navigation and maintaining regional stability in a maritime environment that underpins global trade and energy flows, which are critical to both nations.

This year’s iteration of Talisman Sabre not only reaffirms the UK's defence ties under AUKUS but also reinforces a broader strategic shift under Britain's Plan for Change, which includes a pledge to raise defence spending to 2.6% of GDP. The operation sends a strong signal about Britain’s intent to remain a leading player in global security, supporting regional allies in countering rising challenges to the international rules-based order.

With its advanced maritime assets, commitment to interoperability, and integration of next-generation technologies, the UK Carrier Strike Group is setting a new benchmark for joint coalition warfare and multinational readiness in the Indo-Pacific. Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 stands as a key milestone not only in UK military engagement but also in reshaping how allied forces prepare for future high-threat environments.