The UK Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group has embarked on an extensive eight-month deployment aimed at “maintaining security and freedom from the Atlantic to the Pacific.” This operation, dubbed Operation Highmast, features the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and the air defense destroyer HMS Dauntless, manned by a total of 1,600 navy personnel.
The ships will traverse a diverse range of waters, from the Atlantic through to the Pacific, until December. During this period, they will engage in numerous exercises alongside naval allies from regions including the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Southeast Asia, thereby reinforcing collaborative security efforts on a global scale.
Commodore James Blackmore, the operation commander, emphasized the mission’s importance in reaffirming the UK’s commitment to national and allied security. “Our deployment will showcase that the UK is secure at home and strong abroad, demonstrating readiness to engage in multilateral drills to foster safety in our allies’ regions,” he stated. He added that Operation Highmast will illustrate credible deterrence and reaffirm the UK’s staunch support for NATO and the established rules-based international order.
This mission follows the inaugural deployment of the Carrier Strike Group in 2021, which was led by HMS Queen Elizabeth. As part of its commitment to international security, Operation Highmast will also serve to strengthen relationships with NATO allies and enhance peacekeeping capabilities.
The UK’s Royal Navy will kick off its exercises with France, focusing on joint aerial defense capabilities before collaborating with a carrier task force spearheaded by the Italian Armed Forces. Following these exercises, the group will head westward towards the Red Sea.
As the operations advance, the Carrier Strike Group is expected to integrate fleets from Norway, Canada, and Spain, boosting the total personnel strength to approximately 4,500 by the time it reaches the Indo-Pacific. This intricate coalition underscores the UK’s role as a proactive participant in upholding international stability and security across critical maritime routes.
