U.K. Carrier Strike Group Returns Home With Full Operational Status After Eight-Month Mission

Overview

• British and Italian F‑35Bs operated from each other’s carriers during Exercise Falcon Strike in the Mediterranean, demonstrating seamless cross‑deck interoperability with ITS Cavour and HMS Prince of Wales.
• The air wing expanded to 24 embarked F‑35Bs in the Mediterranean phase to meet full operational capability criteria, with aircraft, helicopters and drones flying about 2,500 sorties overall.
• The task group steamed more than 40,000 nautical miles, integrated ships and support from ten nations, and conducted activities with over 30 partner countries across the Indo‑Pacific and Mediterranean.
• The deployment featured NATO events including Neptune Strike and earlier Mediterranean drills, with the group working alongside nine carrier groups and conducting jet operations on four different carriers.
• Operations ranged from enforcing U.N. sanctions on North Korea to Mediterranean security tasks, with core escorts returning to Portsmouth and Plymouth as the mission concluded.