F-35s from legendary Dambusters squadron land on Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time

Pilots flying the world’s most sophisticated warplane, the F-35B Lightning, roared onto the 65,000-tonne leviathan in off the south coast.

It comes after HMS Queen Elizabeth set sail from Portsmouth on Sunday afternoon to carry out the latest set of trials at sea.

Aviators, engineers, cyberspace and mission support staff from 617 Squadron, the UK’s operational strike squadron, embarked the carrier over the weekend during her brief stop in Portsmouth for supplies before the aircraft themselves landed on board this afternoon.

It marks the first time 617 Squadron – famously known as the Dambusters – has fully joined HMS Queen Elizabeth as the UK prepares to deploy the next generation squadron of fighter aircraft to operate from the sea.

The F-35 jets that landed on board today will be the same aircraft that will sail next year with the ship for her first operational mission next year.

Commander Mark Sparrow, 617 Squadron’s commanding officer, said: ‘We are excited to be on board the carrier and we have been training hard to be here.

‘This is the first time the ship’s operational squadron has embarked and worked together.

‘The F-35 brings next generation capability to UK Defence through its ability to find, destroy or avoid enemy air defences and enemy aircraft whilst gathering intelligence data.’

Commander Ed Phillips is the commander air on board HMS Queen Elizabeth. Known as ‘Wings’, Cdr Phillips is in charge of flying operations on the aircraft carrier.

He said: ‘Today is a significant day for HMS Queen Elizabeth on the road to delivering carrier strike operations for the Royal Navy.

‘We are at the heart of a world-leading capability for the UK and will soon have on our decks two squadrons of F-35s – from the UK and US – plus the protection of a strike group made up of destroyers, frigates and support ships.’

HMS Queen Elizabeth will now enter an intense period of flying having just successfully completed four weeks of basic sea training.

The aim is to demonstrate the jets can successfully defend the aircraft carrier by delivering combat air patrols – launching from the ship to conduct strike missions against a target – and being ready to take off at short notice.

After the initial qualification period, 617 Squadron will test their ability to work with mighty warship and Merlin helicopters of Culdrose-based 820 Naval Air Squadron by conducting a number of complex training missions.

This is all in preparation for their second embarkation later in the year when the squadron will join the carrier and her task group for a large multinational training exercise with US, European and Nato allies.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to return to Portsmouth later this month.

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