UK and US announce joint deployment plan for aircraft carriers
2024-11-15
Recently, the UK Ministry of Defense announced plans to dispatch aircraft carrier strike groups to the Indo Pacific region and other areas for cross regional deployment, and form a joint aircraft carrier strike group with the US Navy. Foreign media comments suggest that the joint aircraft carrier strike group formed by the navies of the UK and the US aims to demonstrate the close defense relationship between allies and their ability to control regional security situations, and to alleviate their respective military shortages through joint actions. According to reports, the British Navy has dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group led by the HMS Prince of Wales, which includes one Type 45 destroyer, two Type 23/26 frigates, and one nuclear submarine. The strike group is scheduled to depart in early 2025, cross the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean, and arrive in the Pacific for operational deployment. This will be the first time since 2021 that a British aircraft carrier has been operating in the Indo Pacific region. The UK Ministry of Defense has not yet released specific details regarding the formation of aircraft carriers with the United States. It is speculated that both sides will carry out joint military operations in stages and across regions, and make overall arrangements based on task requirements and regional troop deployment. It is worth noting that shortly after the announcement by the UK, the Prince of Wales aircraft carrier and the US Truman aircraft carrier conducted a joint military exercise called "Strike Warrior" in the North Sea near Norway, focusing on exercises such as dual carrier cruising and support operations. According to the usual practice of cooperation among NATO allies, it is expected that the British carrier strike group will form the first batch of joint carrier strike groups with the US "Ford" or "Truman" carrier strike groups, conducting short-term patrols and surveillance deployments in the Atlantic Ocean. At that time, at least one US "Aegis" ship will be incorporated into the British carrier strike group and headed to the Middle East region; In the waters from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, the Prince of Wales carrier strike group will form the second joint carrier strike group with the US Lincoln carrier strike group or its successor on combat duty. Both sides will conduct joint military exercises, and the Prince of Wales carrier may temporarily join the "Prosperity Guardian" Red Sea escort operation led by the United States and Britain in the region. After entering the Western Pacific, it is expected that the US Navy will dispatch the "Washington" aircraft carrier strike group to join the third batch of joint aircraft carrier strike groups between the UK and the US, to carry out wide area strategic cruises and joint exercises. The activities will last for 3 to 4 months, covering the main periods of US aircraft carrier spring cruises and British aircraft carrier combat deployments. At the same time, it is not ruled out that the USS Vincent or USS Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group may join the joint aircraft carrier strike group. United States media reported that the navies of the UK and the US announced their plans to deploy joint aircraft carrier strike groups across regions several months in advance, partly to hedge against current negative public opinion. Recently, there have been reports indicating a significant decline in the military research and production capabilities of the British Navy, particularly in the areas of aircraft carrier maintenance and submarine manufacturing. The US Navy is also facing many problems, including multiple submarines being exposed for cutting corners, delayed delivery of core projects such as the Virginia class nuclear submarines, and the forced postponement of the service of old Arleigh Burke class destroyers and Ticonderoga class cruisers. In addition, the navies of the UK and the US appear to be inadequate in carrying out missions in some areas. Affected by the wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the US Navy's military deployment in the Indo Pacific region is at a low point, and it will take until mid November when the USS Washington aircraft carrier joins the 7th Fleet to end the "window of opportunity" for aircraft carrier deployment in the region. Meanwhile, since the beginning of the year, the United States has had three aircraft carriers break overseas deployment records, reflecting the fatigue of the US Navy. In terms of the British Navy, two active aircraft carriers have repeatedly experienced "nesting" due to malfunctions; Due to a shortage of manpower, two Type 23 frigates were forced to retire, resulting in a continuous reduction in their number of surface combat vessels and an inability to support the so-called "global presence" strategic goal. The two countries have formed a joint aircraft carrier strike group with the intention of strengthening their momentum and complementing their military deficiencies through clustering. Analysts have pointed out that the formation of a joint aircraft carrier strike group by the UK and the US in the Indo Pacific region is aimed at expanding NATO's influence in the area. According to the plan, the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group is operating in the Indo Pacific region, and Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy will also send ships to the region for port visits, exercises, and training. Considering the overlapping timing of the aforementioned activities, the United States may use the name of a joint aircraft carrier strike group to temporarily absorb naval forces from relevant countries, thereby promoting NATO's maritime deployment in the Indo Pacific region. British media reported that during the deployment of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier strike group in the Indo Pacific region in 2021, it was temporarily incorporated into Dutch Navy ships and US Navy Aegis ships. Under the framework of the "Okus" trilateral security agreement and the "Security and Defense Partnership" agreement between Japan and the European Union, countries such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea may join the Anglo American Joint Carrier Strike Group and carry out various types of military operations. Foreign defense officials have pointed out that relying on the US alliance system, countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and South Korea have the capability foundation to carry out joint operations at the tactical level. Since 2022, the United States has conducted multiple rounds of multi carrier cruises or exercises in the Pacific region with countries such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Germany. The UK and the US may also try to use the joint aircraft carrier strike group as a model to accelerate the integration process of regional allies and promote the strategic goal of "Indo Pacific NATO". This move will exacerbate regional tensions and further undermine regional peace and stability. (New Society)
Edit：He ChengXi Responsible editor：Tang WanQi
Source：
Special statement: if the pictures and texts reproduced or quoted on this site infringe your legitimate rights and interests, please contact this site, and this site will correct and delete them in time. For copyright issues and website cooperation, please contact through outlook new era email：lwxsd@liaowanghn.com
Military
Recommended Reading Change it 
Home
