Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has joined forces with an Italian carrier strike group, led by flagship ITS Cavour, to take part in Exercise Med Strike. In all, 21 warships, three submarines, 41 fast jets, 19 helicopters, 10 patrol aircraft and 8,000 personnel were involved in the exercise, Forces News reports.
UK and Italian F-35B Lightning jets flew day and night, while warships and submarines from both countries trained together, practising anti-submarine warfare tactics.
617 Squadron and 809 Naval Air Squadron are on board the Prince of Wales operating the F-35s as part of Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25).
617’s Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Joe Mason, worked closely with ITS Cavour’s Deputy Air Wing Commander, Captain Gian Battista Molteni, in the Italian carrier’s flying control centre.
“I am thrilled to work alongside my Italian colleagues and see how they control, launch and recover F-35s from the tower,” said Lt Cdr Mason, Second in Command of 617 Squadron.
“We are stronger together, and combined training makes us more effective and more lethal for the future.”
Exercise Med Strike was also a test of air defence skills, including fending off aerial drone attacks.
“Ex Med Strike affords the opportunities to prove force integration both within the air and maritime domains, learn from one another’s approaches to carrier aviation and demonstrate Carrier Strike capability within Nato,” said 809 Naval Air Squadron Commanding Officer Commander Nick Smith.
The exercise also gave HMS Richmond and HMS Dauntless the opportunity to conduct gunnery training, as well as take part in various other serials.
The Commando Helicopter Force also took part, carrying out operations on the exercise.
Twelve countries are taking part in the carrier strike group deployment, known as Operation Highmast, which will last eight months and cover more than 30,000 miles.
CSG25 is due to take part in more large-scale exercises with allies in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia during this time.
More than 4,500 British military personnel are involved, including almost 600 RAF, 900 soldiers, and 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines.
