UK Carrier Strike Group details progress towards full operating capability

An F-35B fighter aircraft on the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales at Changi Naval Base. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)

The UK Royal Navy's Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25) has provided updates on the progress that it has made towards declaring full operating capability (FOC) and the major criteria that are being assessed to proclaim this milestone.

Details on these were provided by Commander of CSG25 Commodore James Blackmore during a media conference on the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales while the carrier was moored alongside Changi Naval Base in Singapore on 22 September.

Prince of Wales berthed at Changi as part of its second stop in Singapore, which is being done as part of its eight-month Indo-Pacific power projection mission known as Operation ‘Highmast'.

Singapore is the only country where Prince of Wales has been scheduled to call at twice during the mission, after having berthed at the country's Marina Bay Cruise Centre in June 2025.

In response to questions asked during the media conference on 22 September, Cdre Blackmore said that one of the primary requirements that must be fulfilled before declaring FOC is the ability to deliver a consistent sortie generation rate.

A demonstration of this was made at Exercise ‘Talisman Sabre', which took place at multiple locations across Australia between 13 July and 4 August 2025.

During the drills, Prince of Wales demonstrated this capability by launching at least 16 sorties daily in two waves of eight, in addition to carrying out helicopter operations, said Cdre Blackmore.

Another major criterion is interoperability with regional partners and allies.