The United Kingdom is deploying two aircraft carriers at the same time
For the first time since late 2024, the British Royal Navy is deploying two of its aircraft carriers simultaneously to carry out parallel strategic missions.
This is reported by the UK Defence Journal.
The lead ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), has successfully completed maintenance, and the second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales (R09), is currently leaving Portsmouth to prepare for Operation Firecrest.
As part of this mission, the British strike group will head to the North Atlantic to protect critical undersea infrastructure alongside NATO forces, serving as a direct response to the Russian Navy’s increased activity in the region over the past two years.
Both deployed aircraft carriers belong to the Queen Elizabeth class and are rightly considered the largest warships in the history of the British Navy, with a length of 280 meters and a full displacement of approximately 65,000 tons.
A combined diesel-electric and gas turbine propulsion system allows these giants to reach speeds of over 25 knots (~46 km/h) and travel up to 18,000 kilometers without refueling.
The massive flight deck is designed to accommodate up to 36 aircraft, primarily consisting of low-observable F-35 fighters in a special short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) configuration.
It should be noted that France and Poland plan to conduct joint exercises to practice elements of nuclear deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank.
Asylum seekers whom the UK forcibly deported to France under a bilateral agreement are re-entering British territory via trucks.
Iranian citizens fleeing the regime due to U.S. strikes have arrived at the Calais Jungle camp in France with the intention of crossing the English Channel and remaining in the UK. They warn that many more people are preparing to flee due to the escalation of the conflict.
