What a Carrier Strike Group does
From strengthening alliances and building readiness to projecting power and responding at pace, a Carrier Strike Group is a visible expression of British capability, commitment and reach.
Carrier Strike group
Works with allies
Operate alongside partner nations to strengthen relationships, improve interoperability and show the UK can act as part of a united force.
Develops readiness
Bring ships, aircraft and crews together in demanding conditions to train, rehearse and stay ready for deployment.
Projects power
Show visible UK strength on the world stage, helping deter threats, reassure allies and demonstrate global reach.
Builds hybrid capability
A hybrid fleet brings people and autonomous technology together - combining human skill, judgement and leadership with uncrewed systems that extend reach, improve awareness and support operations at sea.
Latest deployment
Operation Firecrest
Operation Firecrest is a major Royal Navy deployment in 2026, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
The mission brings together UK forces, including F-35 fighter jets and helicopters, with allies from the United States, Canada and NATO. Together, they operate in the North Atlantic and High North to protect important undersea infrastructure and help keep the region secure.
Operation Firecrest
April 26
The UK Carrier Strike Group sets sail for Phase 1 of Operation Firecrest, beginning operations with 19 NATO and Join Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies.
April - May 26
The UK Carrier Strike Group conducts JEF Exercise Tamber Shield in the Norwegian Fjords, to enhance missile, fast-boat, and drone tactics, and Exercise Dynamic Mongoose, to bolster anti-submarine warfare. The UK CSG also takes part in combined aviation drills during Exercise Ramstein Flag, a test of NATO airpower spread across Europe.
July 26
UK CSG takes part in NATO’s Arctic Sentry vigilance activity and NATO Air Policing trails over Iceland and the Arctic region using F-35Bs launched for HMS Prince of Wales.
Late july 26
Operation Firecrest Phase 1 comes to a close with Neptune Strike, another large-scale NATO exercise involving air and naval power, which saw F-35Bs launched from HMS Prince of Wales in the Atlantic operating as far east as the Baltic.
The Carrier Strike Group challenge
See if you've got what it takes to select a Carrier Strike Group. Test your instincts and assemble the optimal mix of military firepower, stealth and presence.
Carrier Strike Groups allow us to conduct powerful joint military exercises with allies on land, sea, cyber and air, it demonstrates our high readiness to protect our interests.
Want to know where we're going next?
Follow us on socials for our next location reveal.