UK Sends Its Largest Naval Deployment On 8-Month Indo-Pacific Mission

The Royal Navy’s flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, has set sail from Portsmouth, marking one of the largest UK naval deployments this century.

The carrier strike group will carry out Operation Highmast, an ambitious eight-month mission across 30 countries.

The mission is expected to enhance global maritime security and reaffirm the UK’s commitment to NATO and the Indo-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer boarded the vessel shortly after departure and expressed that the deployment sends a strong signal of strength to rivals and solidarity with allies.

He emphasised the UK’s “unshakable commitment” to global stability.

The strike group’s journey spans from the Atlantic through the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia.

Thousands of family members and well-wishers lined Portsmouth’s historic harbor to wave off the 1600 personnel aboard HMS Prince of Wales.

A few hours later, destroyer HMS Dauntless followed the flagship, officially launching the UK’s premier naval mission of 2025.

The mission begins with about 2,500 military personnel, including roughly 2,100 British, 200 Norwegian, and a mix of Canadian and Spanish forces.

This number is expected to rise to over 4,500 during key exercises in the Indo-Pacific region. The UK-led strike group includes:

HMS Dauntless (Destroyer)
HMS Richmond (Frigate)
HMCS Ville de Quebec (Canadian Frigate)
RFA Tidespring (Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tanker)
HNoMS Maud and HNoMS Roald Amundsen (Norwegian Vessels)

The air wing aboard HMS Prince of Wales is set to include up to 24 F-35B fifth-generation fighter jets along with attack helicopters, anti-submarine helicopters, troop transport aircraft, and drones, supported by approximately 750 personnel.

A group effort!

The Carrier Strike Group will engage in a series of exercises and operations with air, sea, and land, joined by forces from 12 allied nations contributing ships or personnel to support the deployment.#CSG25 pic.twitter.com/JPXvpNZP3w

— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) April 23, 2025

Commodore James Blackmore, who is commanding the operation from onboard HMS Prince of Wales, shared that Operation Highmast is designed to show credible deterrence and back the NATO alliance and the international rules-based system.

He said that this is a crucial time in world affairs and that such deployments reinforce that the UK remains secure at home and committed abroad.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the mission has three primary objectives:

To confirm full operational readiness of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers
To reaffirm the UK’s commitment to NATO
To support global security and prosperity, especially in the Indo-Pacific.

The strike group will participate in joint military drills with a dozen allied nations, beginning with aerial defense exercises off the coast of France under NATO.

It will later join an Italian-led carrier force in the Mediterranean, before moving through the Red Sea and continuing east.

Other nations joining the mission at different stages include New Zealand and Spain.

The strike group is described by the Royal Navy as “international by design,” with various vessels joining and departing throughout the journey.

Prime Minister Starmer has vowed to raise defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, up from the current 2.3%.

However, military leaders believe this increase is just the minimum needed to ensure the UK can defend itself and contribute to future missions, including a possible postwar presence in Ukraine.

Defence Secretary John Healey stated that this mission shows the Royal Navy is modern, prepared, and capable of facing today’s global threats.

Captain Will Blackett, commanding HMS Prince of Wales, expressed pride in leading the flagship.

Having grown up in Portsmouth and watched aircraft carriers from the same harbor as a child, he called this moment the realisation of a lifelong dream.

Blackett also praised the 1,600 crew members aboard.

Sailors also shared their excitement and challenges. John Davis, a 24-year-old weapon engineer from Oxford, said he was eager to experience Japan and work alongside other navies.

Josh Thompson, aged 29, from Barnstaple, shared that while being away from loved ones is tough, the support system for families makes a big difference.

He added that the experience will create “memories of a lifetime.”

Reference: Royal Navy

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