Britain’s Flagship Leads Five-Nation Bersama Lima 25 Drill With Carrier Command Role.

The UK’s HMS Prince of Wales led allied naval, air, and land operations in Malaysia during Exercise Bersama Lima 25. The joint drill reinforces the Five Power Defence Arrangements and signals unity in the Indo-Pacific.

On September 30, 2025, HMS Prince of Wales, flagship of the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group, led multinational operations off the coast of Malaysia during Exercise Bersama Lima 25, as reported by the official channel of the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ). The exercise, hosted this year by the Royal Malaysian Air Force at Joint Force Headquarters, brings together the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) nations, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, for joint training across air, land, and sea domains. Its significance lies in reaffirming the relevance of the FPDA, an arrangement dating back to 1971, and in proving the ability of these nations to act in unison in a strategically contested Indo-Pacific.

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The message emerging from Bersama Lima 25 is clear: more than half a century after its creation, the FPDA continues to evolve as a credible framework for collective defence and regional security (Picture source: Royal British Navy)

Exercise Bersama Lima 25 integrates a wide array of platforms and capabilities, with the UK Carrier Strike Group making its first major contribution to this long-standing series of drills. HMS Prince of Wales, at the center of the formation, is accompanied by Royal Navy escorts and supported by the Royal Air Force’s Air Mobility Force, deploying A400M and Voyager aircraft. These units will operate alongside Malaysian A400M and C-130H aircraft, the Royal Australian Air Force’s C-27J Spartan, and, crucially, fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets from both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. From New Zealand, HMNZS Aotearoa, a state-of-the-art replenishment vessel, adds vital logistical depth to the task force, enhancing the endurance of the maritime component.

The exercise includes a broad spectrum of missions: joint and combined naval maneuvers, real-time air-sea coordination, anti-submarine warfare, cyber defence operations, as well as humanitarian aid and disaster relief simulations. These scenarios are not only about tactical proficiency but also about building the interoperability and trust essential for combined operations. When compared with similar multinational frameworks such as RIMPAC, Bersama Lima stands out for its longevity and focused regional remit, emphasizing direct cooperation among its five members rather than global coalition-building.

HMS Prince of Wales’ participation offers notable advantages in this context. As one of the UK’s largest warships, the carrier allows the deployment of F-35B Lightning II jets at scale, enabling advanced training in fifth-generation carrier-based air operations. The integration of these jets with Australian F-35As demonstrates the growing interoperability of stealth airpower within the FPDA framework. This combined deployment highlights a qualitative leap compared to previous iterations of Bersama Lima, which until now had not featured a full British carrier strike capability. Strategically, the Carrier Strike Group’s presence underscores the United Kingdom’s commitment to a sustained Indo-Pacific tilt, complementing the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific strategy and reassuring regional allies about the credibility of long-range power projection from Europe.

From a geopolitical standpoint, Exercise Bersama Lima 25 sends a signal of cohesion in a region marked by rising great power competition. With China’s expanding naval presence in the South China Sea and regional security challenges ranging from cyber threats to natural disasters, the FPDA retains its importance as Southeast Asia’s only multilateral defense arrangement. The exercise demonstrates that the five nations are not only maintaining a legacy institution but adapting it to contemporary threats, integrating modern assets like the F-35, advanced cyber units, and long-range air mobility platforms.

Malaysia’s hosting of this year’s edition further emphasizes the regional ownership of FPDA activities, offering local forces the opportunity to train with some of the world’s most advanced platforms while reinforcing their central role in Indo-Pacific stability. As Major Mohammad Irwan of the Royal Malaysian Air Force underlined, the exercise is both an opportunity to learn and to strengthen operational bonds across the alliance.

The message emerging from Bersama Lima 25 is clear: more than half a century after its creation, the FPDA continues to evolve as a credible framework for collective defence and regional security. With HMS Prince of Wales spearheading the UK Carrier Strike Group and fifth-generation assets integrated into the drills, the exercise illustrates not only unity in action but also the enduring relevance of multinational cooperation in deterring threats and securing the Indo-Pacific.

Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.