The British Armed Forces have reportedly conducted classified war game simulations to assess the Royal Navy’s ability to counter advanced military threats. The results, as disclosed by The Times, reveal troubling vulnerabilities, particularly concerning the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The simulations reportedly exposed significant weaknesses in the carriers’ ability to withstand missile attacks, sparking debate about their viability as cornerstone assets in the UK’s naval strategy.
HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, commissioned in 2017 and 2019 respectively, are the largest warships ever built by the United Kingdom. Despite their impressive design, including a capacity for 36 F-35B fighter jets and advanced radar systems, the war games reportedly demonstrated that the carriers were “easily sunk” in most scenarios.
Experts argue that the rapid evolution of missile technology has rendered large naval vessels like these increasingly vulnerable. According to a military science specialist from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), advancements in missile systems make it far easier for adversaries to detect, track, and target such high-profile ships. The findings underline a growing concern among defense strategists about the viability of traditional carrier-based naval power in modern conflict.
The construction of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales came at a staggering cost of USD $7.8 billion (RM34.8 billion). However, the vessels have faced persistent mechanical and operational issues, raising questions about whether they provide sufficient value for money.
For example, HMS Queen Elizabeth was slated to lead NATO’s Steadfast Defender exercise in February 2023 but withdrew at the last moment due to a malfunction in its starboard propeller. Its sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, took its place, only to face its own share of mechanical woes.
In 2020, HMS Prince of Wales was rendered inoperative at Portsmouth after water ingress caused significant damage to its electrical systems. By 2022, the carrier had spent just 90 days at sea since its commissioning due to repeated issues, including leaks and propeller malfunctions. These setbacks have not only hampered operational readiness but also intensified criticism over the carriers’ reliability.
In a striking example of the carriers’ maintenance struggles, the Royal Navy resorted to transferring components from HMS Queen Elizabeth to HMS Prince of Wales to expedite repairs. Such measures, while practical in the short term, highlight the logistical and financial pressures facing the Royal Navy as it strives to maintain two complex and resource-intensive vessels.
The vulnerabilities exposed in the war games and the carriers’ mechanical issues come amid a broader context of budget constraints within the UK Ministry of Defence. The Treasury is reportedly considering decommissioning one of the carriers, a decision that could drastically reshape the future of the Royal Navy.
British media outlets, including the Daily Mail, have reported discussions within the Maritime Enterprise Planning Group about selling HMS Prince of Wales to allied nations at a reduced price. Weighing 65,000 tons and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the carrier could attract interest from nations seeking to enhance their naval capabilities. A potential sale would alleviate some of the UK’s defense budget challenges but could also undermine its strategic naval capacity.
A decision regarding HMS Prince of Wales is anticipated by 2028, according to Royal Navy sources. The move would reflect a difficult trade-off between maintaining a robust naval presence and addressing pressing financial constraints.
The troubled history of the carriers has drawn criticism from various quarters. Critics have labeled their construction a “wasteful expenditure,” with some even suggesting that the government should sell both ships and reallocate resources to more versatile and survivable platforms, such as smaller frigates, drones, and land-based airpower.
The findings of the war game simulations have added urgency to this debate. Maritime analysts emphasize the need for greater investment in defensive countermeasures, such as advanced missile defense systems, to enhance the carriers’ survivability. Others advocate for a fundamental reassessment of the Royal Navy’s strategic priorities in light of modern military threats.
Despite the challenges, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales remain central to the Royal Navy’s global ambitions. As carriers of the fifth-generation F-35B fighter jets, they provide critical power projection capabilities, enabling the UK to engage in joint operations with allies and respond to crises worldwide.
The carriers have also played symbolic roles in affirming the UK’s status as a global naval power. Their deployments, including missions to the Indo-Pacific region, underscore Britain’s commitment to international security and its role within NATO. Selling or decommissioning one of the carriers would undoubtedly have significant implications for the UK’s ability to project power and influence globally.
The challenges facing the Royal Navy’s carriers are not unique. Across the world, navies are grappling with the implications of evolving missile technology and the changing nature of naval warfare. Hypersonic missiles, for instance, pose a particularly potent threat, as their speed and maneuverability make them difficult to intercept.
Smaller, more agile naval platforms, coupled with autonomous systems such as unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and drones, are increasingly seen as complementary or alternative solutions to traditional aircraft carriers. These platforms offer greater flexibility and survivability in contested environments, prompting some analysts to argue that the era of large carriers may be drawing to a close.
The future of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales hangs in the balance as the UK grapples with the twin challenges of budgetary pressures and shifting military dynamics. Whether through decommissioning, sale, or investment in enhanced defenses, the decisions made in the coming years will have far-reaching consequences for the Royal Navy and the UK’s strategic posture.
