HMS Queen Elizabeth strike group is ‘ready’
Flotilla set for its first mission
BRITAIN’S mighty carrier strike group – spearheaded by HMS Queen Elizabeth – has been declared ready for operations by military top brass.
The news comes just months before the UK flotilla is set to tackle its first operational mission later this year.
Defence chiefs revealed the group – made up of frigates, destroyers, a submarine, support ships and the £3.2bn aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth – had achieved operating capability.
This means that all elements from fighter jets to radar and anti-ship weapons, have been successfully brought together.
It is expected to reach full operating capability by December 2023, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
Defence minister Jeremy Quin said: ‘This is a hugely significant milestone for HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy and the whole country.
‘This achievement is a testament to the deter mination of our service personnel and industry workforce who have delivered this first-rate military capability, a capability held by only a handful of nations.’
A Royal Navy spokesperson said last month HMS Queen Elizabeth will sail to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and East Asia region on her ‘inaugural deployment’ this year.
The announcement comes after the UK carrier strike group assembled for the first time in the North Sea in October as part of Nato's Exercise Joint Warrior.
It saw the largest number of aircraft on a Royal Navy carrier since 1983, as well as the most F-35B stealth jets at sea across the globe.
Portsmouth-based Queen Elizabeth is expected to depart on her maiden mission in the spring.
Meanwhile, sister ship HMS Prince of Wales remains alongside undergoing repairs after a serious flood in an engine room.
The incident took place in October, and was the second leak in five months on the vessel.
Repairs to fix the carrier – and prevent future similar leaks across both Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth – are expected to hit £5.5m.
Prince of Wales is not expected to retur n to sea until May and is not yet operational.