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| Carrier Strike (United Kingdom) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Carrier Strike (United Kingdom) |
| Caption | Queen Elizabeth-class carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales |
| Dates | 2015–present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Carrier strike group |
| Role | Power projection, maritime security, expeditionary operations |
| Garrison | HMNB Portsmouth |
| Commander | Admiral of the Fleet (operational commanders vary) |
Carrier Strike (United Kingdom) is the Royal Navy formation centred on the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), HMS Prince of Wales (R09), and their embarked air wings and escorts. It provides the United Kingdom with expeditionary power projection capabilities, integrating naval, Royal Air Force, and allied elements for global maritime operations. Carrier Strike supports national strategy through maritime security, crisis response, and coalition operations alongside international partners.
Carrier Strike combines capital carriers with escort Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 and Type 26 frigates, Astute-class nuclear attack submarines, mine countermeasure vessels, and replenishment assets such as Tide-class tankers. The embarked air group principally comprises F-35B Lightning II short take-off and vertical landing fighters of the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, along with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from rotary assets like the Merlin HM2 and maritime helicopters. Carrier Strike operates from bases including HMNB Portsmouth, HMNB Devonport, and supports operations across regions defined by the SDSR 2015 and subsequent defence reviews.
The conception of modern Carrier Strike traces to post-Cold War force structure debates including the Strategic Defence Review 1998 and the cancellation of previous carrier projects such as CVF programme predecessors. Renewed emphasis on carriers emerged with the ordering of the Queen Elizabeth-class under programmes overseen by BAE Systems, Babcock International, and Rolls-Royce industrial partners. Political milestones affecting Carrier Strike include decisions by the Coalition government and statements by ministers such as Michael Fallon and Gavin Williamson. Early deployments integrated concepts from multinational exercises like Exercise Joint Warrior and operations alongside US Navy carrier groups and NATO maritime forces. Lessons were shaped by operations in the Falklands War, experiences with HMS Ark Royal (R07), and doctrine debates within organisations such as the Ministry of Defence and the Royal United Services Institute.
Carrier Strike is organised around a carrier strike group headquarters with command elements drawn from the Fleet Commander staff and embarked air commodores from the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm. Task groups include surface escorts like HMS Daring (D32) and HMS Diamond (D34), frigates including HMS St Albans (F83) and HMS Glasgow (F88), submarines such as HMS Astute (S119), and auxiliary ships like RFA Fort Victoria (A387). Air components are provided by squadrons such as 820 Naval Air Squadron, 617 Squadron RAF, and support units including Merlin HC4 crews drawn from Commando Helicopter Force. Training and logistics staffs involve organisations such as Navy Command and the Submarine Command Course pipeline for integration.
Carrier Strike delivers air superiority, strike, reconnaissance, maritime interdiction, and amphibious support. Its F-35B force enables precision strike against land targets and suppression of enemy air defences, integrating weapons certified by Royal Air Force Regiment planners and UK Strategic Command targeting cells. Anti-submarine warfare is supported by Merlin HM2 equipped with the Crowsnest radar and sonobuoy systems developed with industry partners like Leonardo S.p.A.. Air defence is layered by Type 45 destroyers using Sea Viper (PAAMS) and by F-35B sensors feeding cooperative engagement networks including links to NATO command systems and Combined Joint Expeditionary Force. Sustainment is provided by Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers and supply ships such as RFA Tideforce (A136), enabling global deployments exemplified by Carrier Strike Group 21 and other operational taskings.
The core fixed-wing element is the F-35B Lightning II operated by mixed squadrons from the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm, built by Lockheed Martin with engines from Rolls-Royce partners and stealth features derived from programs like Joint Strike Fighter. Rotary-wing elements include the Merlin HM2 for anti-submarine warfare and the Wildcat HMA2 for surveillance and maritime strike, supported by avionics from Thales Group. Airborne early warning capability is provided by the Crowsnest system carried on Merlin aircraft. Shipborne sensors include the Type 45's SAMPSON radar, Type 26 sonar suites, and integrated communication systems interoperable with Link 16 networks and allied command and control architectures.
Doctrine for Carrier Strike draws on publications and concepts from institutions such as the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Joint Forces Command, and think tanks like the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Training occurs at establishments including HMS Collingwood, RAF Lossiemouth, and maritime training centres at HMNB Portsmouth and Portsmouth Naval Base. Embarked aircrew undertake deck landing qualifications on carriers and practice through exercises like Exercise Saxon Warrior and Exercise Formidable Shield alongside partners including the US Marine Corps, French Navy, and Royal Netherlands Navy.
Carrier Strike has operated in multinational contexts with NATO exercises, bilateral deployments with the United States Navy, and carrier integration trials with Marine Corps Aviation units. Notable deployments included Carrier Strike Group 21, interoperability missions in the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific alongside the French Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and port visits to locations such as Pearl Harbor, Singapore, and Fremantle. Strategic cooperation involves procurement and training ties with allies through programmes associated with the Five Eyes intelligence partnership and defence industrial collaborations involving Boeing, MBDA, and Thales UK.