After nearly a year of intense preparations, the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is set to embark on a landmark deployment to the Indo-Pacific, leading Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25) under Operation HIGHMAST. This eight-month mission will mark the first time the carrier hosts two full squadrons of F-35B Lightning II STOVL (Short Take-Off Vertical Landing) jets on an international deployment, demonstrating the UK’s global carrier strike capabilities.
The UK Defence Journal quoted Defence Minister Maria Eagle’s letter to the Defence Select Committee: “The focus now is to prepare for Op HIGHMAST, where HMS Prince of Wales will deploy with two embarked UK Front Line F-35 Squadrons. This Operation will display our global Carrier Strike reach, demonstrating the ability to deploy, operate, and command a Carrier Strike Group consisting of two UK Lightning squadrons, with associated support.”
The two squadrons assigned to the deployment are the 617 Squadron “The Dambusters” and the 809 Naval Air Squadron. The 617 Squadron previously deployed at sea with the F-35B during HMS Queen Elizabeth’s maiden operational deployment, Operation Fortis, as part of Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21), which included a mix of UK and US Marine Corps (USMC) F-35Bs. The 809 NAS, reformed in 2023, made its first deployment aboard a Royal Navy carrier during Exercise Strike Warrior in September 2024.
Although the squadrons are designated as either Royal Air Force or Royal Navy units, they operate under the joint ‘Lightning Force’ concept, with personnel from both services contributing to the operational effectiveness of the force.
CSG25 will traverse key regions, including the Mediterranean, Middle East, Indian Ocean, and Pacific, engaging in exercises with allies such as Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. The group is also expected to conduct drills in the South China Sea (SCS), a strategic hotspot amid rising tensions with China.
The carrier’s air wing will feature:
- 24 F-35B Lightning II jets (12 each from 617 Squadron and 809 NAS)
- 4 Wildcat HMA2 helicopters from 815 NAS, equipped with Martlet and Sea Venom missiles
- Merlin Mk2 ASW helicopters from 820 NAS
- RAF CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters
- Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless
- Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond (ASW frigate)
- An Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine
- Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels for logistical support
Defence Minister Lord Coaker emphasized Operation HIGHMAST’s role in upholding international maritime law: “We will lead a carrier strike group out into the Indo-Pacific to demonstrate that the law of the sea, the international rules-based order, is something that is important to us.”
The deployment underscores the UK’s commitment to maintaining a presence in the Indo-Pacific, aligning with allied concerns over regional security, particularly in light of China’s expanding maritime claims.
Preparation for CSG25 has included extensive training exercises. The recently concluded Exercise Tamber Shield, conducted in Norway with the Royal Norwegian Navy, served as a key precursor to the deployment. Over 200 Royal Navy personnel participated, along with:
- 4 Wildcat helicopters from 815 NAS
- 4 P2000 fast patrol boats
- Norwegian missile craft
The exercise focused on maritime strike tactics, congested water navigation, and anti-air defense techniques.
815 NAS senior pilot Lt. Cdr. Oliver Brookshank highlighted the significance of these exercises, particularly regarding Norway’s complex maritime terrain, which serves as an analog for congested littoral environments like the South China Sea.
CSG25 will likely encounter asymmetric threats, particularly from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. The group has demonstrated increasing use of drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). HMS Diamond and HMS Richmond have already engaged these threats under Operation Prosperity Guardian, successfully intercepting drone and missile attacks with Sea Viper, Sea Ceptor air defense missiles, and Phalanx CIWS.
The UK’s F-35B fleet continues to expand, with 36 of the initial 48 aircraft already delivered and the remainder expected by March 2026. Defence Minister Eagle confirmed that Full Operating Capability for the fleet is scheduled for no later than December 31, 2025. The UK is committed to expanding its fleet to 74 aircraft, with a third frontline squadron expected by 2033.
Upgrades under the TR3 (Technology Refresh 3) Block 4 program will integrate advanced UK-specific weapons such as the Meteor BVRAAM and SPEAR 3 standoff missiles. Notably, a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B recently flew with the Meteor missile at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, as part of integration efforts supporting the UK’s Lightning IIs.
HMS Prince of Wales’ deployment with CSG25 represents the UK’s most ambitious carrier operation in recent years. As it embarks on this historic mission, the carrier strike group will not only bolster regional security but also reaffirm the UK’s commitment to global maritime stability and its strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
