Mediterranean Sea – F-35B Lightning jets executed vertical landings aboard HMS Prince of Wales during Exercise Med Strike.

The landings marked a key phase of Operation Highmast, the UK Carrier Strike Group’s flagship deployment of 2025.

HMS Prince of Wales leads the eight-month mission, involving military forces from a dozen allied nations.

The task group will travel through the Mediterranean and Middle East to the western Pacific Rim.

Large-scale joint exercises will be conducted with Britain’s international partners.

The operation aims to reinforce the UK’s commitment to Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific security, display allied unity, and promote British trade and industry.

Over 4,500 British personnel are participating in the deployment.

This includes nearly 600 Royal Air Force members, 900 soldiers, and 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines.

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