UK carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth assumes NATO command role after extensive refit
After a 22-month overhaul, HMS Queen Elizabeth has been designated NATO’s afloat command platform, heading the Allied Response Force for upcoming European maritime exercises.
HMS Queen Elizabeth emerged from a 22-month maintenance period, the first since its 2017 launch, and was assigned as NATO’s afloat command platform in July. Captain Claire Thompson highlighted the carrier’s readiness to support the Allied Response Force and conduct integrated training for potential European maritime crises. The deployment includes an embarked battle staff and will test the carrier’s hybrid air wing concept, which pairs F-35B jets with jet-powered drones under the Defence Investment Plan.
The Royal Navy will also run advanced exercises with Flag Officer Sea Training to validate modern warfare capabilities. Historically, both HMS Queen Elizabeth and its sister ship have suffered propeller-shaft failures that forced them to miss major NATO drills, underscoring the importance of this new role. The carrier is slated to resume its high-readiness carrier duties from HMS Prince of Wales in 2027.
Why it matters
The assignment makes the UK’s flagship central to NATO maritime coordination, influencing European security and carrier strategy.
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