HMS Defender Set To Support French Carrier Group On IS Mission
The Royal Navy warship HMS Defender will support the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle when she deploys to tackle ISIL. The ship will provide air defence cover for the French carrier.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
"France is firmly resolved in its determination to tackle ISIL and we need to help too."
"This barbaric terrorist organisation must be destroyed and it’s right that we offer all the support we can to confront them."
"We will continue our own advanced surveillance and strike missions against ISIL. They are a threat to our security in the UK, as well as to France and the rest of Europe."
"We will consider any further requests for support from France under Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty following Friday’s Paris terror attacks."
A Royal Navy warship has shown solidarity with the French Air Force by holding a joint training exercise in the Gulf.
A Royal Navy warship has shown solidarity with the French Air Force by holding a joint training exercise in the Gulf.
HMS Defender sailed from Portsmouth last month for a nine-month deployment under the command of Commander Stephen Higham.
HMS Defender is capable of carrying out a wide range of operations, including anti-piracy and anti-smuggling activities, disaster relief work and surveillance operations as well as high intensity warfare.
Defender has a ship’s company of 230 and commissioned on 21 March 2013.
HMS Defender is the fifth of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 Destroyers. She was launched by her sponsor, Lady Massey, on Trafalgar Day (21 October) 2009.
Last week the ship was with the French air force supporting in a joint training exercise in the Gulf.
Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender took part in complex air defence training with six French Mirage 2000 fighter jets [pictured].
HMS Defender took part in complex air defence training with Mirage 2000 fighter jets.
Commander Stephen Higham, Defender's commanding officer, said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of France. This challenging air command and control exercise demonstrated our ability to work together, and our capacity to fight together in the air, from the sea and over land."
HMS Defender is on a nine-month mission to the Middle East, conducting maritime security operations in the region.
A Navy spokesman said: "The training demonstrated the strong partnership that exists between the allied nations and culminated in an impressive visual show of unity as the six aircraft formed up to fly past the British destroyer."
The hi-tech warship will work with both the US and French carrier strike groups as part of the Combined Maritime Force's 30-nation fleet.
The spokesman added: "The ship is capable of controlling the airspace across an area of 150,000 square miles - twice the size of Portugal - whilst being able to defend a task group of ships against attack from the air, either by aircraft or missiles."
