An F35B Lightning II pilots prepared to take off from HMS Queen Elizabeth (R-08) on Aug. 14, 2021. UK Royal Navy Photo
The U.S. Navy is helping the United Kingdom recover its F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter that crashed in the Mediterranean last week. Read More
A U.S Marine Corps, Royal Air Force, Italian Air Force and Italian Navy F-35Bs on the deck of carrier Queen Elizabeth (R08). U.K. Royal Navy Photo
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The United Kingdom Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and Italian carrier ITS Cavour (CVH550) on Monday performed a cross-decking and integration exercise of their embarked F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters south east of Sicily in the Mediterranean, making Italy the second nation after the United States to operate the aircraft off the U.K. warship. Read More
An F35B Lightning II pilot prepared to take off from HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) on Aug. 14, 2021. UK Royal Navy Photo
This post has been updated with additional information from the U.K. MoD and a statement from F-35 builder Lockheed Martin.
A U.K. F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter operating from Royal Navy carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) crashed in the Mediterranean on Wednesday, the U.K. Ministry of Defense announced. Read More
A Marine F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter from The “Bats” of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 242 takes off from JS Izumo on Oct. 3, 2021. JMSDF Photo
KUALA LUMPUR – Two Marine Corps F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters took off and landed on Japan’s largest warship, JS Izumo (DDH-183), on Oct.3, marking the first time that fixed-wing aircraft have operated off a Japanese warship since World War II. Read More
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-183) steams during a ship maneuvering exercise for Malabar 2017. US Navy Photo
KUALA LUMPUR – U.S Marine F-35Bs from Iwakuni will support the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s post refit trials of the destroyer helicopter carrier JS Izumo (DDH183) next month. Read More
USS Kansas City (LCS-22) off the coast of California on Aug. 16, 2021. USNI News Photo
ABOARD THE LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP USS KANSAS CITY, OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA – The cavernous mission bay of USS Kansas City (LCS-22) was crafted to hold the Navy’s needs to find sea mines, fight swarm boats or interdict submarines – mission packages that have lagged the construction of the ships and plagued the Littoral Combat Ship program.
Now the LCS might be ready for a new mission – moving Marines across the Indo-Pacific. Read More
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-183) steams during a ship maneuvering exercise for Malabar 2017. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated to say the U.S. Marine F-35s on JS Izumo should occur by November.
U.S. Marine F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters will operate off a Japanese warship later this year, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger said on Wednesday. Read More
Royal Malaysian Navy Frigate KD Lekiu (FFG30) sailing with Royal Navy Carrier Queen Elizabeth (RO8) and Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F805) during the Passex exercise in the Malacca Strait on July 25, 2021. Malaysian Royal Navy Photo
KUALA LUMPUR — The Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group is making its way into the South China Sea with some ships already there ahead of carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08). The strike group has partially disaggregated into different elements following the conclusion of Exercise Konkan with the Indian Navy, held from 21 to 22 July in the Bay of Bengal. Read More
HMS Queen Elizabeth (front) with an Indian Shivalik Multi-role Frigate (second from front) in the Bay of Bengal. Royal Navy Photo
KUALA LUMPUR – The British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (RO8) and its carrier strike group carried out a two-day exercise called Exercise Konkan with the Indian Navy from July 21 to 22 in the Bay of Bengal. The exercise was designed to hone the ability of the two navies to operate together in the maritime domain, according to an Indian Ministry of Defence release. The exercise included anti-submarine warfare, anti-air and anti-surface warfare drills. Read More
An F-35B lands aboard HMS Prince of Wales (R09) on July 8, 2021. U.K. Royal Navy Photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Kingdom would welcome the chance to place a squadron of its F-35B Joint Strike Fighters aboard an American amphibious ship, the U.K. secretary of state for defense told reporters on Tuesday. Read More
