“The next stage of the Carrier Strike Group deployment – codename Operation Highmast – focuses on air operations with the U.K. force due to link up with a Japanese task group, to practice combined F-35 operations,” the Royal Navy confirmed on Tuesday. The exercise will last approximately one week, taking place in the Philippine Sea.
Following the joint drills, the UK CSG will divide, with some vessels heading to South Korea and others, including the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09), arriving in Japan. The UK flagship is currently equipped with 18 F-35Bs from RAF 617 Squadron (“Dambusters”) and Royal Navy 809 Naval Air Squadron, though three aircraft have already detached for drills in South Korea under Operation Hightower.
The exercises are expected to include cross-deck operations, with UK F-35Bs launching from and landing on Kaga. Japan, having only recently received its first four F-35Bs of a planned 42-aircraft fleet, is still training its pilots under the guidance of U.S. Marine Corps instructors.
Japan already operates the F-35A variant within the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). As part of these operations, Japan is working to familiarise its personnel with the requirements of F-35B carrier-based operations.
HMS Prince of Wales may embark JMSDF and JASDF personnel to support this training. In 2023, a Japanese delegation had previously joined the carrier off the U.S. East Coast to observe F-35B flight operations.
“We’ll be working closely with the U.S. Navy, in particular. It’s where we’ll start to see many of the other strike groups come together, in particular the United States strike groups there, but also some of the Japanese strike groups as well,” said Commodore James Blackmore, commander of the UK CSG, during a recent conference in Singapore.
The UK task group left Darwin, Australia, on Tuesday after a six-day port visit, en route to Japan. During transit, UK F-35Bs conducted training with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, known as the “Bats”.
Images released by the UK Ministry of Defence showed aircraft No. 25 and No. 27 from VMFA-242 operating from HMS Prince of Wales on 30 July. These jets temporarily detached from their parent unit to drill with the UK CSG, although their current location is unconfirmed.
The remainder of VMFA-242 remains embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). The ARG, which includes USS Rushmore (LSD-47) and USS San Diego (LPD-22), has been on patrol since May and recently participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre.
During Talisman Sabre, HMS Prince of Wales also conducted dual carrier operations with the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group. UK forces further drilled with US Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, carrying out launch and recovery exercises aboard the British carrier.
The Royal Navy stated on 23 July that these activities serve as preparation for additional US Marine Corps personnel and aircraft joining later in the UK deployment. Japan, meanwhile, continues to prepare its future F-35B platforms, with Kaga and sister ship Izumo undergoing modifications from helicopter carriers to support fighter operations.
Kaga is scheduled for its second and final round of modifications in 2026 or 2027, with Izumo expecting completion in 2028. In late 2023, Kaga successfully conducted F-35B trials off the coast of California.
According to an April statement from Japan’s Ministry of Defense, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Dauntless (D33), and Royal Norwegian Navy frigate Roald Amundsen (F311) are scheduled to remain in Japan from August through September. Several ships detached from the UK CSG earlier, including HMS Richmond (F239), HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH332), RFA Tidespring (A136), and ESPS Méndez Núñez (F-104), and arrived in Japan ahead of Talisman Sabre.
Source: USNI News.
