HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier reaches full operating capability

Military Affairs

By Stavros Atlamazoglou

November 18, 2025

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This week, NATO declared the U.K. Carrier Strike Group under the HMS Prince of Wales as having reached full operating capability. The designation means that the aircraft carrier and its fifth-generation stealth fighter jets are now ready to operate on front-line duties in support of the transatlantic alliance’s operations.

This development marks an important milestone in the United Kingdom’s return to international military affairs.

“This is a proud moment for Britain. The U.K. is stepping up for European security and delivering on our NATO-first plan,” British Secretary of Defense John Healey said in a service press release.

NATO made the announcement while the British aircraft carrier was leading a NATO naval force in joint exercises.

The HMS Prince of Wales carries a joint Royal Navy and Royal Air Force contingent of 24 F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jets.

The “B” version of the stealth fighter jet has Short Take-off, Vertical Landing (STOVL) capabilities and can land and take off like a helicopter.

The British carrier is a Short Take-Off, Barrier Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) ship and has a ski-jump at its fore to assist aircraft in taking off. (U.S. Navy Nimitz and Ford class carriers are Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) ships.)

“I am deeply grateful for the professionalism and dedication of all those who’ve worked to reach this significant moment,” the British secretary of defense added.

“We are in a new era of threat that demands a new era for defence. Our strength comes from hard power and strong alliances, so it is fitting to mark this moment alongside one of our closest NATO allies in Italy. Their F-35s have been operating from the carrier to demonstrate the deep partnership between our militaries,” Healy stated.

The U.K. has signaled an intent to order more than 130 F-35A and F-35B Lightning II fighter jets.

Reasserting British might

HMS Prince of Wales flightdeck — F-35B developmental phase 3 (DT-3) flight trials aboard the HMS *Prince of Wales.* (Photo by Michael Land)

The U.K. is America’s closest ally and has joined the U.S. military in almost all of its global adventures in the past four decades. However, successive British governments neglected the military under the pressure of international and domestic economic situations.

As a result, the British military is only now trying to reassert its might. The introduction of two new aircraft carriers, the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, despite their problems, is a step toward rebuilding the branch’s strength and power projection capabilities.

The HMS Prince of Wales is Britain’s newest Queen-Elizabeth class aircraft carrier; it has a sister ship, the HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The HMS Prince of Wales carrier strike battlegroup is currently in the Mediterranean Sea, participating in “Exercise Neptune Strike,” which is testing NATO’s naval strike, amphibious warfare, and anti-submarine capabilities.

The aircraft carrier will then return home. It will have completed an eight-month global deployment that saw it sail in the South China Sea, Gulf of Aden, Mediterranean, and the Atlantic. Titled “Operation Highmast,” the global deployment is an attempt to re-establish the Royal Navy’s and the U.K.’s global power projection capabilities.

Feature Image: Royal Navy F-35B Joint Strike Fighter launches off the flight deck of the Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09) to participate in the NATO-led maritime vigilance activity Neptune Strike 24-2, Oct. 24, highlighting the strike group’s commitment to supporting NATO operations and collective defense of the Alliance.. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Logan Nystrand)