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UK projects naval power in Indo-Pacific with HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier.
The UK Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, that aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09) will depart from Portsmouth on April 22 for an eight-month deployment, leading the 2025 Carrier Strike Group. The mission will include a series of exercises in the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and Indo-Pacific. Named Operation Highmast, this deployment marks the UK’s return to the region four years after its previous carrier-led operation in 2021, when HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) headed the Carrier Strike Group. The operation is aimed at strengthening military cooperation with NATO allies and regional partners through the deployment of a joint force composed of surface vessels, submarines, aircraft, and logistical support elements.
HMS Prince of Wales is one of two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers that serve as the backbone of British naval aviation capabilities (Picture source: US DoD)
After leaving Portsmouth, HMS Prince of Wales will join a formation of warships, support vessels, and aircraft off the coast of Cornwall before heading to the Mediterranean. The Carrier Strike Group will initially fall under NATO command during Exercise Neptune Strike, designed to test the alliance’s advanced maritime strike capabilities, including coordination between carrier and amphibious strike groups. The group will then proceed through the Indian Ocean, conducting joint drills and port visits with partner nations such as the United States, India, Singapore, and Malaysia. It will later participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia alongside the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, followed by a port call in India.
HMS Prince of Wales is one of two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers that serve as the backbone of British naval aviation capabilities. Built for a service life of up to 50 years, it is one of the most capable surface warships ever constructed in the UK. With a core crew of around 700 personnel—rising to 1,600 with its full air wing embarked—the carrier offers significant versatility. Its flight deck spans 70 meters in width and 280 meters in length, equivalent to three football fields, and it can host up to 36 F-35B Lightning II short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft, along with four Merlin helicopters. Its supply stores provide endurance for up to 45 days of operations.
Designed for long-range force projection, HMS Prince of Wales can travel up to 500 nautical miles per day and is equipped to support a wide spectrum of operations, from high-intensity combat to humanitarian missions. It can deploy Royal Marines, participate in air strike operations and no-fly zone enforcement, and conduct multinational interoperability missions. The carrier relies on its escort ships and embarked aviation for defense, including Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles and Merlin helicopters equipped for anti-submarine warfare. The ship also features advanced connectivity and a command center suited for managing complex joint operations in diverse maritime environments.
Approximately 2,500 Royal Navy personnel, 592 Royal Air Force personnel, and around 900 British Army troops will take part in different phases of the mission. Twelve allied nations will provide support in the form of warships or personnel. Among those officially confirmed are Norway, Canada, and Spain. Norway will deploy the frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F311) for the duration of the mission, and the replenishment oiler HNoMS Maud (A530) will offer partial support. Canada has announced that frigate HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH332) has departed Halifax under Operation Horizon, which aims to maintain Canada’s presence in the Indo-Pacific. The Canadian vessel will integrate with the Carrier Strike Group during specific phases but will also conduct national tasking independently. Spain has yet to issue an official statement, although a Spanish Navy frigate is expected to join the group during its Mediterranean operations.
While the full composition of the Carrier Strike Group has not been disclosed, it is confirmed to include the destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33), a Type 23 frigate, an Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary replenishment oiler. The air wing aboard the carrier will consist of up to 24 F-35B aircraft from RAF 617 Squadron ("Dambusters") and the Royal Navy’s 809 Naval Air Squadron ("Phoenix"). Merlin Mk2 anti-submarine helicopters from NAS 820 will also embark, along with Merlin and Wildcat helicopters operating from the escort vessels, including those from NAS 812 and 815.
The deployment will include an experimental component involving the use of unmanned aerial systems for inter-ship logistics. Nine Malloy T-150 octocopters from NAS 700X will be deployed across three of the task group's vessels. The T-150 has a flight endurance of 20 to 40 minutes, a top speed of 60 mph, and a maximum payload capacity of 68 kg.
The group will transit the Red Sea both outbound and on return, though no official statement has been made regarding potential involvement in ongoing U.S. operations against the Houthis in Yemen. However, the escort vessels have been prepared to counter drone and missile threats. HMS Dauntless conducted a live-fire drill named Exercise Sharpshooter, simulating swarms of Banshee aerial drones, Hammerhead surface drones, and virtual threat scenarios. It used Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems, 4.5-inch and 30mm guns, and a Wildcat helicopter armed with Martlet missiles to neutralize the targets. These Wildcat helicopters also trained for aerial defense against drones in Exercise Talon Strike, engaging targets operated by NAS 700X.
Meanwhile, Norway’s Roald Amundsen conducted a test launch of the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) and trialed its Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) capabilities. According to Commander Daniel Thomassen, head of Norway’s 1st Frigate Squadron, the training was essential for preparing the crew and vessel to operate effectively in unfamiliar waters with evolving threat environments.
Operation Highmast represents a renewed demonstration of the United Kingdom’s ability to conduct long-range naval air operations in partnership with allies. It aligns with broader strategic objectives to reinforce British military presence in the Indo-Pacific amid a shifting regional security landscape and an increasing emphasis on multilateral defense cooperation.