LONDON — The U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) has made public details of the first deployment for its new aircraft carrier, scheduled to begin next month, according to an April 27 MoD announcement.
The carrier strike group, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, will sail for the Indo-Pacific in May in the largest concentration of British air and maritime power in years, the ministry said on Monday.
The strike group will include the Daring-class destroyers, Defender and Diamond; Norfolk-class frigates, Kent and Richmond; an Astute-class attack submarine; and the support ships Fort Victoria and Tidespring.
In addition, the Dutch frigate Evertsen and U.S. destroyer The Sullivans will accompany the carrier group.
For her maiden deployment, the Queen Elizabeth will carry eight Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning II fighters and a squadron of 10 U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs; four AW159 Wildcat maritime attack helicopters; seven Merlin Mk 2 anti-submarine; and three Merlin Mk 4 commando helicopters.
A company of Royal Marine Commandos will also participate in the mission.
The carrier strike group is scheduled to visit more than 40 countries and conduct more than 70 engagements, including dual carrier operations with French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Mediterranean, the defense ministry said.
Engagements are scheduled with India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. The strike group will also take part in Exercise Bersama Lima to mark the 50th anniversary of the five-powers agreement with Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
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