Page 43 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

as planned, then the UK’s carrier strike
capability will be declared ready for duty
by December 2020. Britain’s decade-
long carrier strike gap will be closed.
But the new carrier strike capability will
be very different from the one that was
unceremoniously scrapped in 2010. The
new Queen Elizabeth-class carriers are three
times larger than the Invincible-class carriers
they are replacing and can carry up to 40
aircraft or helicopters. All of the UK’s land-
based and maritime helicopters have been
replaced with newer, modern versions.
The biggest difference comes in the fixed-
wing arena, with 86 Harriers being replaced
by 48 jointly owned F-35Bs. While the F-35
is far more capable than the Harrier and
for the first time will give the UK a combat
aircraft designed to incorporate low-
observable capabilities, there are fewer
available airframes. Despite the overall
long-term commitment to purchase 138
F-35s, the immediate plan is for two F-35B Above: The advent of the F-35B and the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers together represent a major new
operational squadrons to be available for power projection tool for the UK. Jamie Hunter
deployment on the carriers over the next all the aircraft and personnel embarked on armoured vehicles, logistic trucks or large
decade – a total of 24 frontline aircraft should HMS Queen Elizabeth or Prince of Wales. Ad quantities of supplies ashore. All troops
be available to go to sea by around 2023. hoc command staff will either be embarked and materiel will have to be flown ashore
The aircraft will not be operated in the on the ship to plan air campaigns or will from the new carriers by helicopter. At
same manner either. Joint Force Harrier issue air tasking orders (ATOs) from a a maximum effort, 14 helicopters can be
was a combined organisation containing headquarters ashore. When serving in the launched in one go from the deck of HMS
distinct Royal Navy and Royal Air Force flying amphibious operations role landing Royal Queen Elizabeth but they will be limited in
squadrons, albeit with teams of dark and Marines, Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) is the size of the cargo and vehicles they can
light blue personnel. The current Lightning expected to deploy a command team onto carry. This has led to suggestions that the
Force is a truly integrated organisation, with the carriers to direct rotary-wing missions. Royal Marines will have to give up on major
RAF and RN personnel intrinsically mixed Once HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Falklands-style amphibious operations,
together within squadrons. Some 58% of the Wales are well and truly in service, there will with their focus reduced to raiding
force will be RAF and 42% will be RN, with need to be a debate about how the ships missions conducted solely by helicopter.
both services contributing commanders at all and their air groups will be employed. As The biggest question mark hangs over
levels on a merit basis. This could ultimately the name implies, carrier strike is focused how the new carriers will be used in fleet-
lead to No 617 Squadron or No 207 Squadron on projecting air power in the shape of the on-fleet naval battles. Britain’s F-35s don’t
– the Operational Conversion F-35B. It may be that the aircraft deploy to yet have anti-ship missiles and without
Unit (OCU) – being led by a a shore base, as will the US Marine Corps, them they will not be able to hit enemy
naval aviator or 809 NAS being to achieve higher sortie rates, or they may warships from stand-off ranges. Whether
commanded by an RAF officer. always operate from the ship. How the new or not the Royal Navy pushes for anti-ship
Unlike US Navy aircraft carriers carriers will be used in amphibious missions weapons, such as a navalised version of the
or the previous British carriers, is also still to be fully developed. Unlike many MBDA Selective Precision Effects At Range
there will not be a dedicated other Royal Navy amphibious warships, the (SPEAR) 3 for the F-35 could determine if
Commander Air Group, or Queen Elizabeth-class carriers do not have Britain’s new carriers will be able to take on
CAG, to control docks or davits to launch landing craft to take Russian or Chinese carriers in fleet actions. AFM

“HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’ and her sister ship, HMS
‘Prince of Wales’, are to give Britain a global
presence. Anywhere she goes in the world it will
[provide] Britain [with] a serious punch.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth’s commanding officer, Commodore Jerry Kyd

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