Exercise Strike Warrior has finished: UK Carrier Strike Group prepares to set sail on global deployment
The Carrier Strike Group, led by Commodore Steve Moorhouse, is preparing to set off on its global deployment following the conclusion of Exercise Strike Warrior
Twenty warships, three submarines and 150 aircraft have taken part in a UK-led multinational military exercise to test the UK Carrier Strike Group’s response to a range of crisis and conflict situations.
Exercise Strike Warrior was designed as a final test for the UK Carrier Strike Group prior to its global deployment, pushing them to their limits in the most demanding exercise to date.
Exercise Strike Warrior saw allied nations operating together, taking part in exercises that demonstrate their ability to work as one. There were 10 nations who took part.
Exercise Strike Warrior saw the Carrier Strike Group pitted against warships from NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 to prove it can undertake high-intensity operations in response to a broad range of crisis and conflict situations. Activities included live missile firings at sea, NATO integration training, Mine Counter Measures operations and submarine exercises.
State-of-the-art F-35 fighter jets conducted missile firings during the exercise, marking the first time British jets have done so at sea for 15 years.
Following Exercise Strike Warrior, the UK’s two aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales were able to meet each other at sea for the very first time.
“Having previously commanded both HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, it was hugely exciting to be present as the two met at sea for the first time. I know that sense of pride and accomplishment is shared by thousands of others, military and civilian, who have contributed to the Royal Navy’s carrier renaissance over the past decade or more.”
— Commodore Steve Moorhouse
Commodore Steve Moorhouse will lead the UK Carrier Strike Group as it sails around the world on its maiden operational deployment.
Led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Carrier Strike Group will interact with 40 nations across the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific including India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore.
