Thread: UK Sends Aircraft Carrier Strike Group On 8-Month Indo-Pacific Mission

British Navy Upgrades Frigate HMS Richmond with Networked Warfare Tech for Indo-Pacific deployment.

As it prepares to deploy with the UK Carrier Strike Group, the frigate HMS Richmond has become the first vessel of its class to receive a major upgrade to its tactical communications systems. Introduced just days before departure for the Indo-Pacific, this technological enhancement marks a significant step in the Royal Navy’s adaptation to an operational environment increasingly shaped by multi-domain threats and the need for constant connectivity between naval, air, and joint forces.

The Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, commissioned in 1995 and based at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth, has been fitted with the modernised Link 16 Crypto system—an updated version of the tactical data link network widely used across NATO. This upgrade enables secure, rapid, and reliable exchange of real-time tactical data with other units. Such capability has become critical in high-threat environments where engagements can unfold in seconds, as demonstrated during HMS Richmond’s encounter with Houthi drones and missiles in the Red Sea in early 2024. Within a task group, the vessel detecting a threat is not always best positioned to engage it, making the timely transmission of targeting data essential to coordinated defence.

HMS Richmond is a 133-metre-long, 4,900-tonne frigate designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare but capable of performing a broad range of missions. It carries a crew of 185 and is equipped with Sea Ceptor air defence missiles, Naval Strike Missiles with anti-ship and land-attack capabilities, a 114mm main gun, Sting Ray torpedoes, and either a Wildcat or Merlin helicopter.

Throughout its service, HMS Richmond has been involved in multiple operations, including the Iraq War in 2003, humanitarian missions in the Caribbean, maritime security patrols in the South Atlantic, deployments in the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific, and multinational exercises with NATO and regional partners. In January 2024, the ship intercepted two Houthi drones in the Red Sea, underscoring its ongoing role in maritime security operations.

Modernised between 2017 and 2019 under the LIFEX programme, the ship received new MTU diesel generators and the Sea Ceptor missile system. In March 2025, it was also fitted with Naval Strike Missiles. That same month, HMS Richmond became the first of its class to receive the modernised Link 16 and the Joint Range Extension Application Protocol (JREAP), a satellite-based system that extends tactical data transmission beyond line-of-sight. These capabilities significantly enhance Richmond’s ability to share situational awareness across the Carrier Strike Group, particularly during dispersed operations across the Indo-Pacific region.

The addition of JREAP enables the ship to transmit tactical data via satellite, overcoming the limitations of traditional radio-based communications during long-range operations. This ensures operational cohesion across great distances, a critical factor in maritime environments like the Indo-Pacific. Richmond now serves as a demonstrator for the UK’s Maritime Multi Link (MML) programme, which aims to modernise tactical communications across the surface fleet. The programme also includes upgrades to the NATO-standard Link 22 system, which uses HF and UHF radio and complements Link 16. Installing these systems on a 30-year-old platform required close coordination between the Royal Navy, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), industry partners BAE Systems and Relay, and the ship’s crew.

Incorporating these systems has strengthened Richmond’s interoperability within NATO and joint environments and aligns with the Royal Navy’s concept of distributed lethality. According to Commodore James Blackmore, commander of the Carrier Strike Group, this networked combat architecture will offer enhanced tactical awareness to the 2,000 personnel participating in the deployment, particularly in increasingly contested strategic areas.

This deployment forms part of the UK’s broader strategy to increase its presence and influence in the Indo-Pacific region, a zone of growing strategic importance marked by intensifying geopolitical competition, particularly between China and Western-aligned powers. The UK’s “Indo-Pacific tilt,” outlined in its Integrated Review, reflects a shift in focus toward protecting vital sea lanes, supporting the rules-based international order, and strengthening security partnerships with regional allies such as Japan, Australia, and India. By participating in multinational naval activities and demonstrating its ability to project force and cooperate across vast distances, the UK seeks to reaffirm its role as a global maritime power.

HMS Richmond’s participation in this deployment as part of the Carrier Strike Group is a concrete expression of that ambition. Operating alongside other Royal Navy ships and allied forces, the frigate contributes to joint exercises, patrols freedom of navigation, and regional deterrence missions. Its upgraded communication and data-sharing systems enhance the task group’s cohesion and responsiveness in this strategically vital but geographically dispersed theatre, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to stability and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.

British Navy Upgrades Frigate HMS Richmond with Networked Warfare Tech for Indo-Pacific deployment

PM Keir Starmer watches F-35 fighter jets on HMS Prince of Wales

Lightning off the LizardÂ… Stealth fighters join carrier as HMS Prince of WalesÂ’ air group assembles

The most powerful deployment of UK airpower at sea this century is now embarked aboard HMS Prince of Wales and her carrier group after two days of intense activity at air bases across southern England – and especially on the deck of the UK flagship.

Since departing her home base of Portsmouth on Tuesday, when thousands of people lined the waterfront to give the carrier an unforgettable send-off, the carrier has been embarking a succession of aircraft off the south coast, ready to begin the 7½-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

A smattering of helicopters – Merlin Mk4s and Wildcats from RNAS Yeovilton – were on deck for the carrier’s departure.

But the bulk of the airpower - more than three dozen aircraft, helicopters and drones, spearheaded by F-35B Lightnings – has joined the ship at sea (although many of the supporting personnel and engineers, spare parts, tools etc embarked in Portsmouth).

Reinforcing the importance of the Operation Highmast deployment – intended to send a powerful message that the UK and its allies stand ready to protect vital trade routes in the Indo-Pacific region and deterring those who seek to undermine global security – the Prime Minister joined the flagship to observe the aircraft arriving and thank crew for their commitment and dedication.

Sir Keir Starmer hailed the “national endeavour” which had delivered HMS Prince of Wales, her hi-tech systems and machinery, and continued to support the Carrier Strike Group 2025 mission.

"As she heads out on one of the largest deployments this century, we are sending a clear message of strength to our adversaries, and a message of unity and purpose to our allies,” the premier said.

“We will always stand with our allies and our commitment to global stability is unshakeable.”

He learned from the strike groupÂ’s command team of the potency and complexity of the air wing which includes:

• 18 F-35B Lightnings from 809 Naval Air Squadron and 617 Squadron RAF which flew aboard from RAF Marham in Norfolk (a further six stealth fighters will join the carrier later in the deployment).
• 16 Merlin (Mk2 anti-submarine and Airborne Surveillance and Control variants to join the troop carrying/utility Mk4s) and Wildcat maritime attack helicopters.
• Numerous Malloy and Puma drone flights which will perform missions as varied as transferring supplies between the task group and from ship to shore to conducting surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

This air power is flown/maintained/operated and choreographed by around 750 personnel, mostly on the carrier, under Captain Colin McGannity, Commander Air Group.

Collectively, in terms of capability, the RN hasnÂ’t sent such a force to sea before.

“It’s taken a huge endeavour to get to this point thanks to thousands of people in squadrons and air bases and supporting staff and industry,” he said.

“It’s a huge privilege to lead this air group, to show what it can do and I’m massively looking forward to it.”

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HMS Prince of Wales leads biggest UK deployment of naval air power this century

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New Zealand warship to join British Carrier Strike Group

New Zealand’s Royal Navy will join Britain’s Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific, in a major step to deepen defence and security ties between the two countries, the UK Government has announced.

During a visit to Britain this week, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to cement a new era of cooperation.

Central to the announcement was confirmation that the Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha will join the UK Carrier Strike Group — led by HMS Prince of Wales — as it sails across the Indian Ocean towards the Pacific Rim

According to a Downing Street statement, the leaders agreed that working together at sea would “strengthen national security, uphold stability across the Indo-Pacific, and reaffirm the longstanding bonds between our armed forces.” The deployment forms part of Operation Highmast, the Royal Navy’s flagship global mission of 2025 involving a dozen allied nations.

Beyond maritime operations, the two governments confirmed deeper collaboration in other areas of defence. Ministers have been instructed to develop a new joint defence agreement, succeeding the 2015 partnership, and reflecting increased defence spending in both countries — the UK to 2.5% and New Zealand to 2% of GDP.

Prime Minister Starmer emphasised the historical and enduring partnership between the two nations, stating: “From the beaches of Gallipoli to the joint training of Ukrainian forces today, the UK and New Zealand have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder in pursuit of peace and stability.”

New Zealand warship to join British Carrier Strike Group

Royal Navy begins first major workout of headline global deployment

The Royal Navy is about begin a week-long exercise alongside NATO allies as its 2025 headline global deployment ramps up.

The UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG), with flagship HMS Prince of Wales at its heart, is on an eight-month mission to the Indo-Pacific and has just arrived off Italy’s south coast for Exercise Med Strike.

The strike group is made up of an array of warships, aircraft and an Astute-class submarine, creating a potent UK force centred on fifth generation stealth jets – in the form of F-35B Lightning fighters embarked on Prince of Wales – capable of operating closely with NATO allies and partners across the globe.

Exercise Med strike – which begins tomorrow (May 5) and conclude on Sunday (May 11) – will bring all the component pieces of the CSG together.

In the waters of the Ionian Sea – between Taranto and Sicily – a force of two carrier strike groups, 21 warships, three submarines, 41 fast jets, 19 helicopters, ten patrol aircraft and more than 8,000 personnel will train together.

The Italian Navy’s Carrier Strike Group – with their own flagship and carrier ITS Cavour at its heart – will join with the UK CSG to anti-submarine warfare tactics among other skills.

“This is a major moment in the UK Carrier Strike Group’s global deployment and will test our skills alongside NATO allies in a region of fundamental importance to UK security,” said Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group.

“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 UK Carrier Strike Group entered the Mediterranean this week and was under NATO command as they participated in the alliance’s Exercise Neptune Strike – which forms a part of a mission to maintain security in the Euro-Atlantic region, deterring any aggressor who would seek to threaten freedom of navigation.

The CSG proved its ability to seamlessly integrate and contribute to NATO missions, working closely with forces from Bulgaria, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Northern Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Türkiye and the United States.

The UK Carrier Strike Group is multinational by design. Ahead of Neptune Strike, the UK ships were joined by Spanish frigate Méndez Núñez and Norwegian ships HNoMS Maud and HNoMS Roald Amundsen.

Between now and December, the Carrier Strike Group will conduct a series of exercises 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 Carrier Strike Group. 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 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.

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