HMS Prince of Wales and its associated UK Carrier Strike Group has reached full operating capability (FOC) and has been placed under the command of NATO, UK Defence Secretary John Healey declared on 17 November 2025.
The move means that for the first time NATO will have a carrier strike group under its command with advanced fifth-generation F-35B Joint Strike Fighters and conforms with the UK’s NATO-first approach, as set out in the Strategic Defence Review published in June 2025.
The announcement came as Healey and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper hosted their Italian counterparts on 17 November aboard HMS Prince of Wales, off the coast of Naples, during a visit to the historic city. Meeting with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, they discussed deepening defence and security co-operation, including joint efforts to counter hybrid warfare threats and bolster European security in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“This is a proud moment for Britain,” Healey stated. “The UK is stepping up for European security and delivering on our NATO-first plan. I am deeply grateful for the professionalism and dedication of all those who’ve worked to reach this significant moment.
“We are in a new era of threat that demands a new era for defence,” Healey added. “Our strength comes from hard power and strong alliances, so it is fitting to mark this moment alongside one of our closest NATO allies in Italy. Their F-35s have been operating from the carrier to demonstrate the deep partnership between our militaries.”
Ships and aircraft from the UK’s Carrier Strike Group – the largest international carrier strike group the UK has ever assembled – will now work with allies for the major NATO Exercise ‘Neptune Strike’. This exercise in the Mediterranean will test NATO’s ability to strike targets at sea and includes carrier-based air missions and amphibious landings. It will also see anti-submarine drills, where personnel will practise for scenarios like ensuring freedom of navigation and securing maritime chokepoints.
The UK Carrier Strike Group’s return to the Mediterranean follows five months of operations, engagements and defence diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific.
In the approach to FOC being declared for the Carrier Strike Group, on 6 November 2025 the Royal Navy reported that HMS Prince of Wales had embarked 24 British F-35Bs for the first time: the highest number of F-35Bs ever assembled on either of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
From 3 to 14 November the British F-35Bs from HMS Prince of Wales participated in Exercise ‘Falcon Strike 2025’, which involved 50 aircraft from Italy, France, Greece, the United Kingdom and the United States training together in the Mediterranean. ‘Falcon Strike 2025’ tested the operational readiness and effectiveness of air operations in highly complex scenarios for the protection and defence of NATO airspace. It featured the integrated use of air, maritime and land assets and capabilities, including fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft. Italian Navy and Royal Navy warships also participated in the exercise.
