F-35Bs land on HMS Queen Elizabeth for first time ever

The UK has once again joined the club of aircraft carrier operating nations as first F-35Bs landed on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth according to an article on NavalToday.com.

Royal Navy Commander Nathan Gray and RAF Squadron Leader Andy Edgell were the first pilots to make history by landing their F-35 Lightning stealth jets on the flight deck of Britain’s newest carrier on September 25.

Shortly afterwards, Commander Gray became the first pilot to take off using the ship’s ski ramp. The flying operations mark the start of more than 500 take-offs and landings set to take place from the warship over the next 11 weeks.

Speaking shortly after the first landing on Tuesday 25 September 2018, Commander Gray said:

“No words can explain how it felt to turn the corner at 500mph and see HMS Queen Elizabeth awaiting the arrival of her first F-35 jets. I feel incredibly privileged.

“For a naval aviator it is always a special moment when you spot the carrier in the distance, hidden within a grey expanse of ocean. HMS Queen Elizabeth is a floating city, home to hundreds of fellow sailors and Royal Marines, and it’s been a particularly poignant day.”

“Carrier Strike is a capability beyond the reach of most nations and no-one should under-estimate the amount of dedication, hard work and skill it has taken to get here,” Royal Navy First Sea Lord, Adm Philip Jones, said.

Able to embark up to 24 of the supersonic jets, HMS Queen Elizabeth provides the Royal Navy with a capability possessed by few others.

Squadron Leader Edgell added: “It has taken an indescribable level of dogged determination and perseverance to achieve this incredible moment. We have written a little piece of history today, but look beyond this and are focusing now on what will be an extensive period of F-35 testing at sea.”

The jets will be put through their paces over the coming weeks in a range of sea and weather conditions. Having then completed the trials, which are taking place off the east coast of the United States, the giant aircraft carrier is expected to visit New York.

The commanding officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, Captain Jerry Kyd, said: “I am quite emotional to be here in HMS Queen Elizabeth seeing the return of fixed-wing aviation, having been the captain of the aircraft carrier which launched the last Harrier at sea nearly eight years ago.

“The regeneration of big deck carriers able to operate globally, as we are proving here on this deployment, is a major step forward for the United Kingdom’s defence and our ability to match the increasing pace of our adversaries. The first touch-downs of these impressive stealth jets shows how the United Kingdom will continue to be world leaders at sea for generations to come.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth left her home port of Portsmouth in August, crossing the Atlantic to conduct the flying trials as well as training with the US Navy.

The deployment has also provided an opportunity for the UK’s Carrier Strike Group headquarters team to sharpen their skills in a task group, having been joined on the deployment by Type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth, and a US Arleigh Burke-class destroyer the USS Lassen.

More than 1,400 sailors, flight crew and Royal Marines have been working on board the carrier during her deployment.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is on track to deploy on global operations from 2021. Meanwhile, the UK has now taken delivery of 16 out of a planned 138 F-35 jets as part of its world-leading fleet of military aircraft for use by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

HMS Queen Elizabeth Deployment

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.”

Hagel: Defense Department Has Options on Syria

USS Barry launches a cruise missile (US Navy Photo)

By Cheryl Pellerin, American Forces Press Service

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT – Shortly after takeoff on the first leg of his second official trip to the Asia-Pacific region, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel joined a video teleconference  that focused on the deadly situation in Syria.

In the latest tragedy in the stricken nation, more than 1,000 men, women and children died in what may have been a chemical weapons attack on its own citizens by the government of President Bashar Assad. The United Nations and others are investigating the attacks.

After leaving Hawaii, the first stop on his trip, Hagel spoke today with reporters who are traveling with him to Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines.

“The president has asked the Defense Department for options. {As] always, the department is prepared, has been prepared, to provide ranges for all contingencies for the president of the United States, and we’ll continue to do that,” Hagel said.

“We’re dealing with a very serious issue,” the secretary added. “We are working with our international partners, the international community [and] the United Nations. We are looking at every option.”

“The Defense Department has a responsibility to provide the president with options for all contingencies, and that requires positioning our forces [and] positioning our assets to be able to carry out whatever options the president might choose,” Hagel said.

“On the specific option of military use or force in response to what we will determine at some point here very shortly what did happen, and we’re still assessing that,” he added. “I think the range of military options is always part of the range of options the president has.”

Hagel said he thinks the international community is moving quickly to get the facts and the intelligence right about what happened in Syria so a decision can be made swiftly about how to respond.

“If, in fact, this was a deliberate use and attack by the Syrian government on its own people using chemical weapons, there may be another attack coming,” he said. “A very quick assessment of what happened and whatever appropriate response should be made.”

According to a press report in the UK Telegraph, Royal Navy vessels are being readied to take part in a possible series of cruise missile strikes, alongside the United States, as military commanders finalize a list of potential targets.

Any retaliatory attack would be likely to be launched from the sea as the Syrian air force is judged to be strong enough to shoot down enemy jets.

A Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine is said to be in the region while a number of warships recently left Britain for exercises in the Mediterranean.

Commanders may also need to make use of the RAF base at Akrotiri, Cyprus for air support.
If military action is approved, the first wave of missiles could start within a week.

America’s Sixth Fleet currently has four guided missile destroyers in the area, each of which could join the attack.

The Royal Navy also has its rapid response task force in the Mediterranean. The group includes two frigates and the helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious

Exercise Joint Warrior 111

JTEPS Exercise Joint Warrior 111 is current being conducted off the UK coast until 14 February. This exercise is comprised of a program of exercises conducted by land forces, warships, submarines and aircraft across the UK with the maritime element focused in the offshore and coastal waters to the north east, north and north west of Scotland. Our friend Huub in the NL has reported on his twitter feed (@FMCNL) that 4484.0 kHz USB has been monitored as an ective Joint Warrior 111 frequency.

Royal Navy Amphibious Task Group Arrives in Norfolk

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Royal Navy's Amphibious Task Group (ATG) arrived at Naval Station Norfolk June 30 for a port visit during Operation Auriga.

The Royal Navy landing platform dock ship HMS Albion (L14), landing platform helicopter ship HMS Ocean (L12), Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Largs Bay (L3006), and the 3 Commando Brigade will spend several days in Norfolk before conducting joint operations with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and II Marine Expeditionary Force in July.

Auriga is the major 2010 Royal Navy deployment that focuses on a series of U.S. and Canadian exercises with the principal aim of enhancing operational capability by training with coalition partners in traditional war fighting areas of carrier strike, amphibious assault and anti-submarine warfare operations.

The U.K. ATG will partner with the U.K. Carrier Strike Lead Task Group (CSLTG), which deployed to the East Coast in April in support of Operation Auriga.

Carrier Strike Lead Task Group is comprised of the Royal Navy Fleet flagship HMS Ark Royal (R07), frigate HMS Sutherland (F81), destroyer HMS Liverpool (D92), Royal fleet auxiliary Fort George (A388), French submarine FS Perle (s606), and the guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52).

The carrier strike and amphibious capabilities are at the core of the U.K.'s expeditionary maritime strategy.

Thursday War Frequency

From Michel and our friend Graham Tanner on UDXF:

05206.0 KK, KI w CONTROL / exercices NATO ? 0619 USB eng ( german & uk accent ) d/x 10jun10 Michel

It is a 'Thursday War' frequency. Every Thursday the Royal Navy and other NATO naval forces have a large exercise in 'La Manche' between Brittany/Normandy and Cornwall/Devon. As would be expected, all the vessels use codes rather than their ship-names, but you can usually work out the nationality of the ship from the accent on the radio.

Graham Tanner

Exercise Joint Warrior 2008

HMS Northumberland Conducting a replenishment during Exercise Neptune Warrior off Scotland in March 06 with RFA Orangeleaf (UK Royal Navy Photo)

The UK military will be running two publicized multi-force exercises around Scotland under the title of Exercise Joint Warrior 2008. NW 081 will run from April 19, 2008 to May 2, 2008, and NW 082 will follow later in the year, running between October 4, 2008 and October 17, 2008. These are the latest in the series of major regular multi-force exercises previously known as Neptune Warrior. You can get more details on this at http://secretscotland.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/exercise-joint-warrior-2008/

Gerry on the UDXF has reported 4760 kHz USB (Tac Calls: 9IJ, 1IF, 8US, and 1TF), and 5206 kHz USB, probable CWC style net (Tac Calls: Control, KG, KE and JW) as possible exercise frequencies.

Exercise Neptune Warrior 07/Sky Lance Has Begun

Note: For Milcom Monitoring Post readers in Europe, this exercise should afford you and excellent opportunity to monitor the UK RN/RAF and TASCOMM radio systems on HF. Drop me a line and let me know what you are hearing.

The UK’s largest maritime training course and a major air exercise are being brought together beneath, on and above the waters of the majority of the UK for the first time later this month (17-28 September 2007).

Neptune Warrior, a twice yearly Royal Navy and Royal Air Force run exercise, which qualifies British forces to work and fight in a task group this time will be coordinated and integrated with the RAF’s Exercise Sky Lance which aims to offer similarly aligned training.

The combined forces of Neptune Warrior and Sky Lance will feature a total of 17 warships and around 100 aircraft from the UK and eleven allied nations. The UK forces will be joined by forces from the United States, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada, Netherlands, Spain and Norway.

Both Neptune Warrior and Sky Lance will provide participants with a first class introduction to the problems they may encounter during the planning and execution of coalition operations with the lessons learned benefiting real-world missions.

Multi-national operations can be a significant challenge for the armed forces but are essential to practise interoperability, develop common operating procedures and to learn from each other. The English border regions and the highlands of Scotland provide a challenging environment to all participants in terms of topography, oceanography and, on occasion (!), adverse weather conditions.

From a maritime perspective participating ships, include the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates HMS Montrose, HMS Lancaster and HMS Westminster and four submarines.

In the air, Exercise Sky Lance will be executed across the whole of the UK with up to 100 aircraft participating per day; Harriers, Typhoons, Tornados and Hawks will make up the bulk of the RAF’s air input.

Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) provision will be made by both maritime patrol aircraft and other Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACs) aircraft and additional support will be provided by air-to-air refuelling assets such as Tristars and VC-10s.

The exercises will also benefit from the participation of land-based formations including Tactical Air Controllers, Artillery Spotters and RAF mobile convoys providing a variety of realistic targets for the many air operations planned.