'Deliberate message' sent as HMS Prince of Wales' fighter jets join massive Nato air power drills
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Fighter jets took to the skies over an area of 700 miles
A ‘deliberate message’ was sent to Nato adversaries as sophisticated fighter jets joined forces in a huge air power workout.
F-35B Lightning aircraft from HMS Prince of Wales were part of Britain’s involvement in Exercise Ramstein Flag. Flying over the skies of Finland for the first time, Royal Navy aviators launched sorties from the North Sea.
Merlin and Wildcat helicopters also joined the F-35Bs of 809 Naval Air Squadron. Commodore Richard Hewitt, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG), said British involvement has delivered a clear message to our allies and also any possible aggressor.
He added: “The seamless coordination of our Carrier Strike Group with 18 Allied partners during Exercise Ramstein Flag is a powerful testament to the skill of our sailors and aviators. The UK Carrier Strike Group is fully integrated into NATO’s frontline defence. Operating under NATO command, the fifth-generation capability we are generating from HMS Prince of Wales delivers a deliberate message to any potential adversary: together, the Royal Navy and our allies provide the precise, synchronised combat power required to secure the Northern Flank."
The exercises extended across the length and breadth of Europe. Tankers provided air-to-air refuelling to extend the fifth-generation stealth fighters’ range for sustained, long-range missions deep into the continent. The jets carried out drills up to 700 miles away from HMS Prince of Wales.
This mock scenario tested the aircraft’s capability to respond quickly and decisively to an attack on a member state, which would demand the response of all allies. Its scope was vast, spreading across 20 locations from Norway to Spain and Finland.
Around 150 sorties were flown daily by up to 150 NATO aircraft from 18 nations over the 11 days of the exercise. Aircraft included land and carrier-based F-35s, Typhoons, F18s, Swedish-made Gripens, France’s Rafales and Mirages, as well as Reaper drones. The aim was to ensure that many different types of aircraft, with different sensors and weapons systems, could operate in a cohesive manner.
Being directed from headquarters hundreds of miles away, they showed they could work together seamlessly and effectively, and take the fight to an opponent with the latest technology. Operations were also carried out in HMS Prince of Wales’ sick bay.
The ship has a comprehensive hospital suite including an operating theatre offering Role 2 medical support. Emergency surgery can be carried out on causalities before they’re passed on to a full-scale hospital for further treatment. A 20-or-so strong medical team is on call 24 hours a day, and the Maritime Medical Emergency Response Team is always on hand to deliver life-saving aid where necessary.