Operation Highmast: Royal Navy Flagship Embarks on Landmark Indo-Pacific Deployment

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HMS Prince of Wales Leads UK Carrier Strike Group on Landmark Indo-Pacific Deployment

The Royal Navy’s flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, has departed Portsmouth to spearhead the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) on a high-profile eight-month mission to the Indo-Pacific, marking the ship’s first deployment as flagship and a significant milestone for British maritime power. 

The operation, known as Operation Highmast, will see the £3 billion, 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier lead a multinational task force—including UK, Norwegian, and Canadian warships—through exercises and diplomatic engagements with 40 countries across the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan, and Australia.

Thousands of well-wishers gathered along Portsmouth’s historic waterfront to witness the carrier’s departure, underscoring the national significance of the mission. The Carrier Strike Group includes Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless, Norwegian tanker HNoMS Maud, frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen, Royal Navy frigate HMS Richmond, Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tidespring.

A key element of the deployment is the integration of advanced air power. Merlin helicopters and F-35B Lightning fighter jets have landed on HMS Prince of Wales, with air squadrons preparing to operate at full capability. The Merlin Mk2 helicopters, equipped with the Crowsnest Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) system, will provide critical early warning and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, acting as the “eyes and ears” of the fleet1. This capability, now at full operational status, is considered vital for protecting the strike group from air and surface threats, drawing on lessons from past conflicts to ensure robust maritime force protection.

Defence Secretary John Healey described Operation Highmast as a demonstration of the UK’s commitment to global security and the rules-based international order, highlighting the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific, which accounts for nearly 20% of British trade. The deployment is also intended to strengthen defence ties with allies, deter potential adversaries, and support freedom of navigation in a region marked by growing geopolitical competition.

The Ministry of Defence has reaffirmed its commitment to the mission, with preparations including extensive trials and exercises to ensure operational readiness. The deployment underscores the Royal Navy’s ability to project power globally and signals the UK’s readiness to support international stability alongside its partners.