British Navy Deploys HMS Prince of Wales Aircraft Carrier to Japan to Reinforce its Indo-Pacific Posture.

According to a statement issued by the British Embassy in Japan on August 6, 2025, the British Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, is set to make a port call in Tokyo between late August and early September. This visit is part of an eight-month mission in the Indo-Pacific, named “Operation HIGHMAST,” aimed at reaffirming the United Kingdom’s commitment to regional stability and strengthening its strategic partnerships in this geopolitically significant area.
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HMS Prince of Wales, the second aircraft carrier of the Queen Elizabeth-class, is one of the Royal Navy’s most advanced platforms (Picture source: UK MoD)

The arrival of HMS Prince of Wales, flagship of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG), marks a key step in UK–Japan defense cooperation, aligning with the UK’s “Plan for Change.” This policy framework emphasizes the UK’s intent to ensure national security while reinforcing alliances with partners that share similar values, particularly in maritime security and defense technology.

The Tokyo visit will feature a multi-day bilateral program of diplomatic and industrial events. Among them, the Pacific Future Forum will bring together military, political, and industry leaders to address current and emerging security challenges. The Defence and Security Industry Day (DSID) will highlight British defense capabilities and promote collaboration in key sectors such as space, cyber, and emerging technologies.

This deployment comes amid a broader expansion of UK–Japan strategic ties, illustrated by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), and the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), which focuses on the co-development of a sixth-generation fighter aircraft. The port call by HMS Prince of Wales is therefore not merely symbolic but reflects the evolution of bilateral relations into a multi-dimensional partnership encompassing defense policy, technological cooperation, and industrial collaboration.

HMS Prince of Wales, the second aircraft carrier of the Queen Elizabeth-class, is one of the Royal Navy’s most advanced platforms. Commissioned in December 2019 and based in Portsmouth, it has a full-load displacement of over 80,000 tonnes and a length of 284 meters. The vessel can cruise at 25 knots, with tested speeds reaching 32 knots, and has a range of 10,000 nautical miles. It features nine decks below the flight deck, a 16,000 square meter flight deck with a ski-jump ramp, two aircraft lifts, and facilities for refueling and rearming aircraft. The carrier can operate up to 36 F-35B Lightning II jets and a range of helicopters including Merlin, Chinook, Apache, and Wildcat, with a surge capacity of over 65 aircraft. It can accommodate up to 1,600 personnel, including 679 crew members and up to 250 embarked troops.

In terms of defensive systems, the vessel is equipped with three Phalanx CIWS, four DS30M Mk2 30 mm remote-controlled guns (designated but not all installed), and .50 caliber Browning heavy machine guns replacing the original Miniguns. Its sensor suite includes the S1850M long-range radar, the Artisan Type 997 medium-range 3D radar, Ultra 2500 series electro-optical cameras, and an aircraft glide path guidance system. HMS Prince of Wales is configured for a wide range of operations including power projection, maritime air superiority, crisis response, and humanitarian missions.

Operation HIGHMAST represents the UK’s largest maritime deployment to date, involving approximately 4,000 personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and British Army. Over eight months, the task force will cover more than 26,000 nautical miles, visit over 40 countries, and conduct more than 70 joint activities. Twelve countries are supporting the deployment with ships or personnel, including continuous contributions from Norway and additional support from Canada, Spain, and New Zealand.

This military initiative is also accompanied by a strong economic and industrial agenda. During port calls in Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea, the UK aims to showcase its defense and security capabilities in a region that accounts for 17% of its global trade, representing £286 billion in goods and services exchanged as of September 2024. This engagement supports implementation of the CEPA and CPTPP agreements and encourages further industrial collaboration.

Operation HIGHMAST is also consistent with ongoing multilateral efforts, such as the UK's participation in the Talisman Sabre exercise in Australia, where over 3,000 British personnel operated alongside AUKUS members and Japan. These collaborations now extend to defense robotics and autonomous technologies, highlighting a growing convergence in advanced military capabilities.

Beyond governmental and military relations, this deployment also seeks to reinforce broader societal ties through academic, cultural, and industrial exchanges. The UK’s approach aims to build lasting connections across multiple domains, ensuring a durable presence in the Indo-Pacific.

The visit of HMS Prince of Wales to Tokyo goes beyond a routine naval stop. It is part of a broader British strategy to project influence in the Indo-Pacific through defense engagement, technological cooperation, economic outreach, and diplomatic coordination. Through this operation, the UK signals its intention to maintain a credible and active role in a region of increasing strategic importance, while deepening its bilateral partnership with Japan across multiple sectors.