Britain's goal in deploying aircraft carrier group to Singapore

Codenamed Operation Highmast, the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and several Royal Navy escorts visited Singapore in late June.

HMS Prince of Wales (R09) is the second Queen Elizabeth -class aircraft carrier and the Royal Navy's Fleet Flagship currently commanded by Captain Will Blackett since 2024. The design places an emphasis on versatility, with a capacity for 250 Royal Marines and the ability to support them with attack helicopters and troop transport aircraft up to and larger than the Chinook.

A British F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aboard HMS Prince of Wales with a section of the Singapore skyline in the background. (Photo credit: Mike Yeo)

The ship is currently planned to carry up to 48 F-35B Lightning II stealth multirole fighters and Merlin helicopters for airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare, although in surge conditions the class is capable of supporting more than 70 F-35Bs.

Royal Navy Wildcat anti-submarine helicopter on board HMS Prince of Wales in Singapore. (Photo: Mike Yeo)

The Royal Australian Navy's Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Sydney also arrived in Singapore on June 25 to join the UK-led aircraft carrier strike group. (Photo credit: Mike Yeo)

The Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless left the naval facility operated by the UK Defence Support Unit Singapore in Sembawang, Singapore on June 29 to continue its carrier strike group deployment in the Indo- Pacific . (Photo: Mike Yeo)

In 2024, the Royal Navy handed over control of its aircraft carrier group to NATO when it participated in the Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise.

The aircraft carrier strike group visiting Singapore this time, in addition to the British warship, will include the Canadian Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec (F332), the New Zealand ANZAC-class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha (F77), the Norwegian Nansen-class frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F311), the Spanish Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate ESPS Mendez Nunez (F104), the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33) and the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond (F239), with logistical support provided by RFA Tidespring (A136). There will also be an Astute-class submarine on the undersea escort mission.

The visit to Singapore lasted a week, after which the Task Force headed east to Indonesia, taking part in a series of exercises hosted by Australia, then north via Taiwan to South Korea and Japan.

The focus of the transit was to determine which elements of the CSG would exercise navigational rights through international waters in the Taiwan Strait. Pictured is the full complement of the HSM Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group (QEC) in normal operation.