Britain's only currently operating aircraft carrier sets off for exercises without fighters on board

Britain's only operational aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, has gone on a month-long training session without fighter jets on board. HMS Prince of Wales, currently undergoing drydock repair in Scotland, remains inactive.

According to the publication, the ship, which was completed in 2017, left Glenmallan in Scotland on February 13, 2023 without a squadron of F-35 fighters.

The material says that the British Ministry of Defense denies the connection between the exercises of the "empty aircraft carrier" and the planned reduction in spending in the army. The agency claims that during the current maneuvers, F-35 aircraft land on an aircraft carrier, taking off from RAF bases.

Meanwhile, as the newspaper writes, the aforementioned decision has already been criticized. In particular, the former head of the Royal Navy fleet Admiral Lord West questioned Britain's ability to respond to world events in turbulent times.

If he (an aircraft carrier) does not have full equipment, then this is no longer a joke. There is no point in maintaining an amazingly combat-ready ship if it does not have a main weapons, which he can use in combat. The whole point of buying the F-35 was that it would be a carrier-based aircraft. When you do something like this aviationyou need to keep practicing

- explained a high-ranking military man.

According to Admiral Lord West, an aircraft carrier must always have at least 12 F-35 aircraft on board, despite the fact that it can take up to 40.

The article also states that the former Navy commander expressed serious concern about the level of ammunition availability in the country. More precisely, do the British have enough of them left due to the transfer of existing stocks to Ukraine.

If we were suddenly involved in a major conflict, we would run out of ammunition very quickly. I believe that in warehouses today there are quite a few types of anti-tank systems and some anti-aircraft systems

said Admiral Lord West.

Comments

[svp67]

What a strange outrage. Aircraft can fly aboard the Queen at any time, the main thing is that at the exit it would have the necessary level of material resources for their functioning

[Bingo]

A small question, if you go by taxi - it does not mean at all that you have a car. Here we must start with the fact that Britain's atomic weapons will fly where - they know only in the Pentagon, because these missiles belong to them. About the same with the US air wing on a British aircraft carrier, which was there once. At the order of the Third Charles, they will completely put a bolt with a device.
Not to mention what is the point of an empty aircraft carrier going out to sea - they will not learn how to work like an aircraft carrier in this campaign

[Andrei from Chelyabinsk]

Can not. Firstly, there is nothing special to fly there, although in 2023 they will most likely form the first regiment of 24 aircraft. But there is a second thing - aces, and specially trained ones, can fly from the deck. And the Britons were able to scrape together such for their last trip to 10 cars.
In general, they will soon assemble 24 cars for 1AB, but for the second one ... But for reinforcement, because 24 cars for one of their AB are still not enough ... Julitta is going, someday she will

[svp67]

Quote: Andrey from Chelyabinsk

Can not.

They can. And no one anywhere said that these planes would belong to Britain. And the Americans have enough pilots, that there are enough planes, both in the fleet and in the ILC

[Asad]

Today is not the first article about the F35. It's amazing what attention is paid to such an unsuccessful aircraft. About unsuccessful, this is solely focusing on the opinion of local experts.

[dauria]

About unsuccessful, this is solely focusing on the opinion of local experts.

Focus on Israel. They don't buy bad planes from the Mirage to the F-35.

[Bingo]

Quote: dauria

About unsuccessful, this is solely focusing on the opinion of local experts.

Focus on Israel. They don't buy bad planes from the Mirage to the F-35.

Especially when you consider that their first aircraft were the Me-109, which were completely obsolete at that time.

[Asad]

As far as I remember, they bought Me 109 solely because of US sanctions.

[Bingo]

As far as I remember, it was about the fact that they don’t take shit to Azrailovka - and I proved with an indisputable example that the tradition of taking shit is there from the very beginning

[Bingo]

Damn, does he have an air wing or not at all ?! As far as I remember, it does not yet exist in nature!
And what is most interesting, according to recently revealed ... About two years ago ( ) Circumstances - it seems that none of those idiots who ordered the carrier-based F-35 have an air wing! The fact is that recently it turned out that there is sea water in the sea! And that sometimes she even flies onto the deck! Unbelievable but true, she doesn't watch Hollywood cartoons that don't let her!!! And Fat Dristun is not just afraid of water, he also requires an air-conditioned hangar on land!
As a result, when the F-35S was deployed for the FIRST TIME on an aircraft carrier at sea - and that was (for the first time !!!) a year ago - it fucking rusted for 1 going to sea - entirely!

[topol717]

Quote from Bingo

The fact is that recently it turned out that there is sea water in the sea! And that sometimes she even flies onto the deck

Have you seen the aircraft carrier? what the hell is the water on the deck? there is more than 20 meters from sea level to the deck. Where have you seen such waves?

[PPD]

what the hell is the water on the deck?

Ordinary water, sea.
Humidity, wind. And humidity happens even when there is no wind.
And the weather is not always with the sun.
Sometimes it drips from above.
So ...
R.S.
I can imagine how much howling would have been if our Kuznetsov had come out without aviation at all.
In general - Rule Britain by the seas ..

[Bingo]

Quote from: topol717

Have you seen the aircraft carrier? what the hell is the water on the deck?

You can safely take Petrosyan's audience

[Tuzik]

"As a result, when the F-35S was deployed for the FIRST TIME on an aircraft carrier at sea ..."

Chip in that sho on Queen Elizabeth 35th B.
"A ship of this type, unlike most large aircraft carriers, is not equipped with catapults and brake cables and is designed for the use of short takeoff and vertical landing (V / STOL) aircraft. The air wing based on the ship consists of F-35B fighter-bombers and helicopters Merlin for AWACS and PLO.

Perhaps they decided to save fuel for lifting and landing and check the boat itself

[Irokez]

It is strange, is fuel really saved on a ship on the principle of less cargo - less fuel consumption.
That's what boomerang sanctions do.

[Tuzik]

There is also a variant of Bingo, where it assumes a resource from the rusting of airplanes to save.
This also fits my version, as I wrote above. Check the ship itself.

[TermNachTer]

Everything is correct in the article, there is only one clarification))) not Great Britain, but Small Britain. I will not speak for the Air Force and the Army, everything is sad there. I will only speak for the fleet. One aircraft carrier, three SSBNs and four MAPLs. six destroyers - it is not known how many of them are in service, somewhere around a dozen frigates of Project 23, again, it is not known how many of them are actually combat-ready. And ffsssyoyo))) where is the UK?)))

[Tuzik]

In Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa

[Sergey39]

Yes! They made a floating target out of an aircraft carrier and there is no need to think that when it is necessary, planes will fly to it! Aircraft carrier at sea at sea, aircraft on board.