HMS Prince of Wales gears up for autumn of trials with crewed and uncrewed aircraft
Britain's biggest warship, HMS Prince of Wales, is gearing up for an autumn of trials off the coast of America and ready to support F-35 Lightning jet operations with its US allies during trials.
The aircraft carrier sailed into the US Navy base at Mayport in Florida last week, and is now ready to embark the equipment, supplies and stores vital to the first stage of three trial periods involving crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
When she departs the base, US Lightnings will join the carrier for a series of trials which the Royal Navy says aim to push the operating limits of the stealth fighter and Queen Elizabeth-class combination, increasing the carriers' punch and ability to carry out strike missions in ever-harsher weather conditions.
In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, HMS Prince of Wales said the carrier's company have had a busy ten-day crossing after leaving UK waters earlier this month following drone trials off Cornwall, and had been carrying out small arms firing drills, honing their skills, particularly on the flight deck.
The ship's company have been carrying out firefighting and crash exercises, moving Merlin and Wildcat helicopters around the flight deck, practising sea boat operations, self-defence exercises and undertaking a replenishment from US Military Sealift Command – the US Navy's counterpart of the UK's Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
A Royal Navy spokesperson said the carrier evaded autumn storms that swirled up on the Eastern Seaboard of the USA thanks to the efforts of the ship's navigator and meteorologists.
In calm, storm-free seas, the carrier linked up with the US Navy for the first time on the other side of the Atlantic, taking on board fuel from the US fast combat support ship USNS Supply.
The spokesperson said the replenishment was as much about honing drills with an ally than topping up the carrier's tanks.
Following the trails with F-35 jets, there will be other airborne drills including maiden trials with a Mojove drone, which will be the Royal Navy's first foray into armed, uncrewed aircraft.
The ship will also team up with the US Marine Corps to host the MV-22 Osprey - a multi-engine, dual-piloted, tilt-rotor aircraft that can take off, hover and land like a helicopter but which can also rotate its propellers to a horizontal position and fly like an aeroplane.
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