Latest news with #JamesBlackmore
ITV News
05-05-2025
- General
- ITV News
Royal Navy begins week-long training exercise off coast of Italy
The Royal Navy has begun a week-long exercise with its NATO allies off the coast of Italy. HMS Prince of Wales is currently leading the UK Carrier Strike Group on an eight-month mission to the Indo-Pacific. The strike group is made up of warships, aircraft, submarines and fifth generation F-35B Lightning fighter jets. This week's exercise, called Exercise Med Strike, involves two carrier strike groups, 21 warships, three submarines, 41 fast jets, 19 helicopters, ten patrol aircraft and more than 8,000 personnel training together off the coast between Taranto and Sicily. The Italian Navy's Carrier Strike Group will join with the UK to carry out anti-submarine warfare tactics. Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group said: 'It is with great pride that we begin operations in the Mediterranean. I know UK and allied service personnel on the warships and aircraft of the Strike Group stand ready to deliver. 'Working at the heart of a powerful NATO force sends a strong message and shows clearly the phenomenal capabilities that not only the UK possesses but the alliance as a whole.' Alongside the UK and Italy, Canada, France, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye and the United States are also involved in Exercise Med Strike. The whole eight-month deployment, called Operation Highmast, aims to reaffirm the UK's commitment to the "security of the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific region, demonstrate collective resolve with allies and showcase British trade and industry". Between now and December, the Carrier Strike Group will conduct a series of exercises and operations with air, sea and land with allies in the Mediterranean, Middle East, South-east Asia, Japan and Australia. Over the course of the deployment, more than 4,500 British military personnel will be involved, including nearly 600 RAF and 900 soldiers alongside 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
HMS Prince of Wales leads show of military force as £3.5billion aircraft carrier spearheads fearsome fleet of warships in the Mediterranean - with crew ready to defy China over Taiwan
Britain's flagship aircraft carrier has been pictured for the first time spearheading one of the most fearsome battlegroups in recent history - which could soon clash with China 's military. HMS Prince of Wales has arrived in the warm waters of the Mediterranean, escorted by eight other warships as part of the UK's Carrier Strike Group (CSG). The 65,000-tonne leviathan - the biggest warship ever built for Britain - is on an eight-month deployment that will take her to the Far East and back. Jaw-dropping images have shown the vast £3.5billion vessel forming up with the majority of her task group as it approaches the Strait of Gibraltar. She is accompanied by the £1.6billion nuclear submarine HMS Astute, HMS Dauntless - an £1billion Type 45 destroyer touted by the Navy as one of the world's best air defence warships - and submarine-hunting frigate, HMS Richmond. Also part of the task group are British tankers RFA Tideforce and RFA Tidespring, which carry critical supplies to replenish the fleet at sea. New arrival to the fleet, Spanish frigate Méndez Núñez, Norwegian ships HNoMS Maud and HNoMS Roald Amundsen were also part of the breathtaking formation, which was captured by Royal Navy photographers from the air in a Wildcat helicopter. The maritime juggernaut is at the start of an eight-month global deployment, having left home shores last week. HMS Astute, pictured front, cuts through the waves with HMS Prince of Wales behind, following by HMS Dauntless - a Type 45 destroyer - and the Spanish frigate Méndez Núñez Between now and December, the mighty fleet will conduct a series of drills and operations with air, sea and land forces of a dozen allies in the Mediterranean, Middle East, South-east Asia, Japan and Australia. This is the second deployment of the UK's CSG. The first, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021, took place against the backdrop of a world in lockdown due to the Covid pandemic. The 2025 mission, known as Operation Highmast and commanded by Commodore James Blackmore and his staff from aboard HMS Prince of Wales, occurs with a changed world order and even more volatile geo-political situation. The goal is to reaffirm the UK's commitment to the security of the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific region, demonstrate collective resolve with our allies and showcase British trade and industry. Over the course of the deployment, upwards of 4,500 British military personnel will be involved, including nearly 600 RAF and 900 soldiers alongside 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines. But the mission could potentially see the naval flotilla clashing with China when it reaches contested waters in the Indo-Pacific. While the Government has not confirmed the precise route of 'Operation Highmast', the Navy has not ruled out sailing through the contentious 110-mile wide Taiwan Strait. The mission comes amid mounting fears that China is planning to launch a full-scale invasion of the island, with Beijing's military having already drilled huge D-Day style assaults of Taiwan using soldiers, marines, warships and its air force. Pictured (front row left to right) submarine HMS Astute, HMS Prince of Wales, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless, and the Spanish frigate Mendez Nunez, (middle row left to right) RFA Tideforce, HNoMS Maud of the Royal Norwegian Navy, RFA Tidespring (back row left to right) HNoMS Roald Amundsen of the Royal Norwegian Navy and Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond. China has been rapidly expanding it's navy, building the equivalent of the entire Royal Navy in just four years - with the pace of shipbuilding outstripping even the US. And as tensions continue to intensify, the commander of the British-led carrier strike group has insisted the Royal Navy stands ready to defy China - and that it is prepared for any sort of military operation. 'I will deliver whatever mission I am ordered to go and do – that's my role,' a defiant Commodore James Blackmore said ahead of the UK task group's deployment. 'My part of the bargain is being ready for all eventualities from a combat capability, from a defence engagement capability, from a partners and allies capability, so I'm ready to exercise whatever the Government or the Ministry of Defence asks me to do.' There is even the risk it could find itself coming under missile or suicide drone attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen - which has already launched a number of assaults on vessels in the Red Sea. The strike group is expected to pass through the busy Middle Eastern shipping lane on its way to the Far East, after completing war drills in the Mediterranean with allies. A contingent of 18 UK F-35B jets will join the carrier, with that number increasing to 24 during the deployment. Also joining will be Merlin Mk2 anti-submarine helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and Merlin Mk4 Commando and Wildcat helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton, as well as an undeclared number of T-150 Malloy and Puma drones. Cdre Blackmore, 50, said the deployment would send a 'powerful message' to allies and potential adversaries about the UK's naval and air power. While he could not divulge the exact route the fleet would take while in the Indo-Pacific, he added there was a clear motive for being there. He said: 'It's about supporting key trade routes that exist from the Indo-Pacific region to the UK, and supporting partners and allies in the region, showing that we are there as a capable and credible force should it be required. 'That in a time of crisis, we can come together and fight together and show that we have a capability that we mean business with.' He added: 'Working closely with partners from across the globe, Operation Highmast will demonstrate credible deterrence and our support to Nato and the rules-based international order. 'This will reaffirm that the UK is secure at home and strong abroad and reinforce the UK's commitment to the Indo-Pacific.' However, Nato says the contested stretch of sea are international waters and that vessels have a right to freely navigate it. Despite this, the 2021 deployment of the UK Carrier Strike Group - spearheaded by HMS Prince of Wales's sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth - did not traverse the strait. It led to accusations from Tory MPs that Britain was seeking to cosy up to Beijing. Should the strike group again avoid the territory, similar accusations could arise. Just weeks ago, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of Britain's armed forces, met with top members of China's military during a low-key trip to the Asian superpower. The meeting, the first by a British Chief of the Defence Staff in a decade, led to speculation the Chinese had warned Adm Radakin to steer clear of the Taiwan Strait during the carrier strike group's mission to the Far East. The mighty carrier group is on an eight-month mission which will take it tot he Far East and back China insists it owns almost all of the South China Sea and that the Taiwan Straight falls into its territorial waters. Captain Will Blackett, commanding officer of HMS Prince of Wales, said: 'We have been training very, very hard for over a year now, and we're good to go. 'This ship is a fantastic machine, she's got amazing equipment - state of the art - and we're very proud to take her around the world.' Last week saw thousands of families and well-wishers line the harbour walls at Portsmouth to wave off HMS Prince of Wales and her escort ship, HMS Dauntless. Banners and flags were waved by members of the public from the walls and beach of Portsmouth harbour with sailors aboard the 65,000-tonne warship waving back to cheers from the crowds as they passed. In a tribute to the Pope Francis, HMS Prince of Wales's ensign flag on its flight deck was at half-mast as a 'sign of a respect' to the late pontiff, a navy spokesman confirmed.
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
China steps up its war of words after branding US and Japanese destroyers 'enemy vessels' - as fears mount PLA will carry out D-Day style invasion of Taiwan after months of war games
China has escalated its war of words by branding American and Japanese destroyers as 'enemy vessels.' The People's Liberation Army made the unprecedented peacetime move in an information display set up for an open day at the country's navy. The sign onboard the Nanjing Type 052D guided-missile destroyer, which is part of the PLA Navy's Eastern Theatre Command whose main role is to aggressively patrol the Taiwan Strait, said the Chinese vessel was able to 'strike large and medium-sized enemy surface vessels such as the US Arleigh Burke-class and Japan 's Atago-class destroyers.' The sign further claimed that the vessel was able to use 'supersonic trajectories, possessing a high penetration probability and accuracy, significantly enhancing the PLA Navy's maritime dominance capabilities.' The South China Morning Post reported that while similar displays in years gone by have only listed generic missile specifications, this was the first time American and Japanese ships were labelled as belonging to the 'enemy.' The sign was spotted on the same day the USS William P. Lawrence, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, was seen transiting through the Taiwan Strait. And it comes the week the Royal Navy's £3.5billion flagship has set sail on its eight-month mission to the Far East as part of a huge military show of force that could see it clashing with China. Crowds cheered as HMS Prince of Wales departed her home of Portsmouth to lead an international maritime strike group which aims to send a 'powerful message' that Britain 'means business'. The 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier - the biggest vessel ever built for the Senior Service - will lead a coalition of British, Norwegian and Canadian warships on operations in the Mediterranean, Middle East, south-east Asia, Japan and Australia. While the Government has not confirmed the precise route of 'Operation Highmast' - the codename for the deployment - the Navy has not ruled out sailing through the contentious 110-mile wide Taiwan Strait. The mission comes amid mounting fears that China is planning to launch a full-scale invasion of the island, with Beijing's military having already drilled huge D-Day style assaults of Taiwan using soldiers, marines, warships and its air force. And as tensions continue to intensify, the commander of the British-led carrier strike group has insisted the Royal Navy stands ready to defy China - and that it is prepared for any sort of military operation. 'I will deliver whatever mission I am ordered to go and do – that's my role,' a defiant Commodore James Blackmore told the Telegraph ahead of the UK task group's deployment. 'My part of the bargain is being ready for all eventualities from a combat capability, from a defence engagement capability, from a partners and allies capability, so I'm ready to exercise whatever the Government or the Ministry of Defence asks me to do.' Thousands of families and well-wishers lined the harbour walls at Portsmouth to wave off the £3.5billion naval leviathan, which will be accompanied from the navy base by Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless. Banners and flags were waved by members of the public from the walls and beach of Portsmouth harbour with sailors aboard the 65,000-tonne warship waving back to cheers from the crowds as they passed. In a tribute to the Pope Francis, HMS Prince of Wales's ensign flag on its flight deck was at half-mast as a 'sign of a respect' to the late pontiff, a navy spokesman confirmed. The ships will then be joined by two Norwegian vessels - tanker HNoMS Maud and frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen - as well as the UK and Canadian frigates HMS Richmond and HMCS Ville de Quebec, which are sailing from Plymouth. The support vessel Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tidespring will make up the final ship in the Carrier Strike Group (CSG), which will involve other ships and nations during the deployment called Operation Highmast. A contingent of 18 UK F-35B jets will join the carrier in the days after departure, with that number increasing to 24 during the deployment. Also joining will be Merlin Mk2 anti-submarine helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and Merlin Mk4 Commando and Wildcat helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton, as well as an undeclared number of T-150 Malloy and Puma drones. Cdre Blackmore, 50, said the deployment would send a 'powerful message' to allies and potential adversaries about the UK's naval and air power.
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
UK Aircraft Carrier Begins Pacific Mission in Boost for US
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A British aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, commenced a high-profile deployment on Tuesday, which will see the warship lead a naval strike group to the Western Pacific Ocean. The eight-month mission, codenamed Operation Highmast, comes as the United States, a major ally of the United Kingdom, seeks to maintain its naval dominance, while China is expanding its military reach and presence with the largest navy in the world by hull count. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters This is the second Pacific deployment of a Royal Navy carrier strike group since 2021, when the Prince of Wales' sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, was tasked with a similar mission. Operation Highmast also marks the second deployment of a European aircraft carrier in the region in less than a year. France, another key member of the U.S.-led NATO alliance, dispatched its only aircraft carrier, FS Charles de Gaulle, for a five-month Indo-Pacific mission last November. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy has deployed two of its 11 aircraft carriers, USS Nimitz and USS George Washington, in the Western Pacific. Their sister ships, USS Carl Vinson and USS Harry S. Truman, are stationed in the Middle East to conduct airstrikes in Yemen. British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales leaves from Portsmouth Naval Base on the south coast of England on April 22, 2025. British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales leaves from Portsmouth Naval Base on the south coast of England on April 22, 2025. BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Following what the Royal Navy called "extensive training," the Prince of Wales, which is the U.K.'s flagship and has 1,600 military personnel on board, left Portsmouth Naval Base in southern England with the destroyer HMS Dauntless, which is part of the carrier strike group. The Prince of Wales and the Dauntless will be joined by five other naval vessels, according to the Royal Navy, incorporating a pair of British ships, the frigate HMS Richmond and the tanker RFA Tidespring, as well as two Royal Norwegian Navy ships and a Canadian frigate. "[Operation Highmast] will reaffirm that the U.K. is secure at home and strong abroad and reinforce the U.K.'s commitment to the Indo-Pacific," said Royal Navy Commodore James Blackmore, who is the commanding officer of the Prince of Wales-led carrier strike group. The British-led naval task group—with its up to two dozen F-35B stealth fighter jets—is scheduled to conduct a number of exercises and operations with allies in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan, and Australia until December. London will signal its intention of maintaining a presence in the Indo-Pacific region through this deployment, said Nick Childs, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, adding that the security environment is more uncertain than it was four years ago during the previous Royal Navy carrier strike group Pacific deployment. "While the U.K. government propounds a 'NATO first' strategy, it also asserts that Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security are indivisible," Childs explained, noting that Operation Highmast aims to uphold "principles against which China is widely seen as the main challenger." Leading the way 🌊 🚢 This was the moment @HMSPWLS set sail from Portsmouth to the sound of cheering crowds, as the @RoyalNavy flagship left to spearhead Carrier Strike Group 25 ⚓ Read more 🔗 — BFBS Forces News (@ForcesNews) April 22, 2025 What People Are Saying U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said: "As one of only a few nations capable of leading a deployment of this scale, the Royal Navy is once again demonstrating that U.K. defense is strong, modern, and ready to meet the threats of today and tomorrow." Nick Childs, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said: "Global events may yet force changes of plan, but one way or another, the lessons learned from this deployment, and its perceived strategic impact, will significantly shape the future of U.K. defense." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Prince of Wales will take part in the U.S. aerial bombing campaign targeting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen when it reaches the Red Sea.
NHK
23-04-2025
- Politics
- NHK
UK aircraft carrier leaves for Indo-Pacific
A British Navy aircraft carrier has set sail on a mission to the Indo-Pacific. It is expected to conduct exercises with Japan's Self-Defense Forces and others with the aim of enhancing deterrence. Britain is seeking to increase its engagement in the Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of China's growing presence. London has made the region "a permanent pillar" of its international policy, citing the region's growing security and economic importance. The flagship HMS Prince of Wales left Portsmouth in southern Britain on Tuesday to lead a carrier strike group. It is scheduled to participate joint exercises and other activities to be held alongside 13 countries, including Japan, the United States and Australia. It is also expected to make a port call to Japan this summer. This is the second deployment of Britain's carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific region. The first was in 2021, led by another carrier of the same class. Commodore James Blackmore, who commands the carrier strike group, indicated Britain aims to work with the SDF for close integration of F-35 fighters and a shared understanding of carrier operations. He said it will demonstrate how maritime units from both countries can be integrated interoperably in the Indo-Pacific region. The carrier strike group is also set to carry out drills in the Mediterranean and elsewhere. This comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump is seen as reluctant about the country's involvement in European security. Strengthening deterrence against Russia, which is continuing its invasion of Ukraine, is posing a challenge.
