Historic F-35 cross-decking between Royal Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force
HMS Prince of Wales has concluded a landmark series of joint operations with the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force in the Philippine Sea, the first time a UK jet has landed on a Japanese warship. The exercise, part of Operation HIGHMAST, brought together four powerful multinational task groups.
The 9-day exercise saw the UK Carrier Strike Group integrate with JS Kaga’s battle group, USS George Washington’s Carrier Strike Group Five, and the US Marine Corps Amphibious Ready Group centred on USS America. The UKCSG escorts HMS Dauntless, HMS Richmond, HNoMS Roald Amundsen, HMAS Brisbane, ESPS Méndez Núñez, participated supported by RFA Tidespring. In total, 11 warships and 23 aircraft from six nations took part.
Exercises in the Philippine Sea included anti-submarine warfare serials, coordinated air defence drills, and replenishment operations. Allied helicopters, including the Merlin Mk4s of 845 Naval Air Squadron, flew to and from Japanese ships to build interoperability. The USMC’s ‘Bats’ of VMFA-242 temporarily detached two F-35Bs to Prince of Wales for joint deck operations, while MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors from USS America practised landings on the UK carrier.