British Aircraft Carrier Visits Australia for the First Time in Nearly Three Decades

English  UK  USA Posted on  —by Carro e motos
British aircraft carrier arrives in Australia and concludes the country’s largest military exercise of the year
British aircraft carrier arrives in Australia and concludes the country’s largest military exercise of the year (X @HMSPWLS)

The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales arrived this week at the port of Darwin, marking the first visit of a Royal Navy vessel of its kind to Australia in nearly three decades.

The vessel was welcomed with tugboat water jets and a traditional ceremony conducted by the Larrakia Indigenous people, ancestral custodians of the region. The stop is part of the British Strike Group’s deployment to the Indo-Pacific, with HMS Prince of Wales serving as the flagship.

The visit concludes the aircraft carrier’s participation in the Talisman Sabre 2025 military exercise, Australia’s largest joint training event, which brought together around 35,000 troops from 19 countries. During the exercise, the British ship operated off Australia’s northern coast alongside the U.S. aircraft carrier strike group USS George Washington, showcasing joint naval power. HMS Prince of Wales also hosted MV-22 Osprey aircraft from the U.S. Marines, anticipating the integration of F-35B jets and more American troops into the mission.

The carrier’s presence is part of Operation Highmast, the UK’s main naval deployment in 2025, lasting eight months and involving 12 countries. In total, more than 4,500 British personnel are involved, including sailors, soldiers, and air force members.

The mission aims to strengthen cooperation with allies, promote security in the Indo-Pacific, and enhance the UK’s presence in the region.

Source: Royal Navy | Photo: X @HMSPWLS | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team

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