U.S. Marine Corps F-35B prepares to launch from HMS Prince of Wales ahead of Ex TALISMAN SABRE on July 8, 2025. UK Royal Navy Photo
U.S. Marine F-35s Operate from U.K. Aircraft Carrier in the Pacific: U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighters operated from the U.K. Royal Navy (RN) aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09) on Tuesday as part of the run-up to the U.S.-Australian led Exercise Talisman Sabre, according to the Royal Navy. Photos released by the Royal Navy dated to Tuesday show two F-35Bs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 (VMFA-242) “Bats” carrying out refuelling and launch preparations from the Royal Navy carrier. The squadron is embarked aboard USS America LHA-6).
“U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs landed on, refuelled and launched from U.K. Flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, ahead of Exercise TALISMAN SABRE.”, read the caption to each photo. VMFA-242 is currently embarked on America as part of the America ARG / 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) team that will take part in the Talisman Sabre alongside a number of multinational ships and forces which also include the U.K. Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG).
No details were given as to where Prince of Wales was located but the carrier was likely to be in the Timor Sea and heading to Darwin, Australia for Talisman Sabre. America was operating in the Coral Sea on Monday. VMFA-242 aircraft No. 32 seen on Prince of Wales has been shown on Pentagon imagery releases to be embarked on America. VMFA-242 conducted the first F-35B launches and landings for a JMSDF ship, deploying on destroyer carrier JS Izumo (DDH-183) in October 2021.
Earlier in a press conference on June 24, UKCSG Commander Commodore James Blackmore said that the UKCSG would integrate with Marine Corps F-35Bs, specifically from VMFA-242. The integration with the Marine Corps F-35Bs is the second time the UKCSG has integrated with F-35Bs from another country on its deployment known as Operation Highmast. The first time was in May with Italian Navy F-35Bs of the Cavour CSG as part of NATO Exercise Mediterranean Strike. The UKCSG, headed by Prince of Wales along with its escorts of Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33), Royal Australian Navy (RAN) destroyer HMAS Sydney (DDG42), frigate HMS Richmond (F239), Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) frigate HMCS Ville De Quebec (FFH332), Royal Norwegian Navy (RNN) frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F311), Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Mendez Nunez (F-104) and fleet oiler RFA Tidespring (A136) is now around Darwin, Australia, ahead of its participation in the U.S.-Australian led multinational exercise Talisman Sabre taking place from Sunday until Aug.4 in Australia.