Royal
Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to get underway from HMNB
Portsmouth on Saturday for her first-of-class F-35B flight trials.
The
deployment is dubbed Westlant 18 and will see the carrier spend four months off
the Eastern Seaboard of the United States with the aim of developing the
operating envelope – the parameters for safe operations – of the F-35.
Prior
to her departure, HMS Queen Elizabeth was joined by Merlin Mk2 helicopters,
aircrew and support personnel from 820 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) who embarked the
carrier to support her forthcoming trials.
She
will also be joined by RFA Tiderace and Plymouth-based type-23 frigate HMS
Monmouth, and a contingent of Royal Marines from 42 Commando, Plymouth.
The
ship will conduct trials in UK waters over the coming days, before departing for
the USA later this month.
F-35B
trials are an important step in the Royal Navy’s path to achieving a carrier
strike group capability, something the UK has been without since the
Invincible-class aircraft carrier left service.
Should
all go according to plans, an initial carrier strike operating capability is
expected to be reached by December 2020, while a Carrier Enabled Power
Projection (CEPP) capability is expected by 2026 (full CEPP meaning having both
carriers in operation with F35B jets and the Crowsnest radar).
Commenting
on the upcoming trials, the commanding officer of 820 NAS, Cdr Chris Knowles,
said: “It’s a really exciting time for 820 squadron and for me personally.
“To
take command of a squadron on the brink of a career-defining deployment, with
great people, all of whom are keen, professional and very much looking forward
to getting on with their job at sea.”
“We’ve
been cycling all crews through a thorough pre-deployment training package to
make sure everyone is current and qualified to go.
“Our
force protection role will be key to the ship at sea, as will our SAR
capability, we’re ready and able to provide whatever support Queen Elizabeth
needs.”