Royal Navy: Amazing HMS Prince of Wales pictures showing F-35B jets taking off and training before exercise

Exercise Strike Warrior has already begun, with HMS Prince of Wales taking charge of the UK Carrier Strike Group. Portsmouth-based warships HMS Dauntless and HMS Iron Duke will be part of the operation, alongside F-35B Lightning jets, submarines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers, and helicopters.

HMS PRINCE OF WALES ASSEMBLES CARRIER STRIKE GROUP

The task group will be faced with intensive warfare scenarios to test their ability to protect HMS Prince of Wales and her air group, as well as carry out flying operations. The UK Carrier Strike Group and Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 will test tactics across a range of tasks including anti-submarine warfare, countering attacks from un-crewed systems, air defence exercises, pilot rescues and sailing through narrow straits when coming under threat from opposition.

F-35B jets from 809 Naval Air Squadron will be flying sorties, making attacks from defensive positions. Before this, the personnel needed to get up to speed. They were tasked with conducting various training exercises, with pilots from 809 NAS Royal Navy and Royal Air Force 617 Squadron carrying out flight deck operations and piloting F-35B jets.

Pilots were earning their carrier qualifications while becoming accustomed to living and working at sea. Warfare Operational Sea Training - involving night flying exercises - were conducted alongside tasks in the operations rooms. Aircraft handlers and engineers completed crash on deck exercises under the watchful eye of the Fleet Operational Sea Training (FOST) - preparing themselves for any emergency situation. Here are several pictures of training ahead of Exercise Strike Warrior.