For ten days in October 2020, the Royal Navy's new carrier strike group (CSG) assembled for the first time, to mark the beginning of an era of naval operations. Based aboard the flagship, 65,000 tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, were 14 F-35B Lightnings, making this the largest group of fifth-generation fighters at sea anywhere in the world. In addition to Lockheed Martin's F-35Bs, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) and two 845 NAS Merlin HC4s on board. Meanwhile two 815 Sqn Wildcat HMA2s were deployed to HMS Defender and HMS Kent. Around 3,000 personnel from the UK, the United States and the Netherlands were involved in the manoeuvres as part of Exercise Joint Warrior 20-2 in the North Sea. The strike group is the largest and most powerful European-led maritime Torce in aimost 20 years - coming nearly ten years after the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier, the HMS Ark Royal, was retired prematurely in 2010 as part of the SDSR (Strategic Defence and Security Review). In the aftermath of this decision, the Royal Navy's morale sank to rock bottom, as did the relationship with the RAF, but that is no longer the case: the Queen Elizabeth and many of its new or rejuvenated air assets are showing the way.
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