PROGRESS FOR UK F-35B: FIRST 'SKI-JUMP' TAKE-OFF WITH LOAD-OUT? CARRIER ARRIVES AT HOME PORT

摘要

AUGUST 16 SAW a major development in the return of the United Kingdom's carrier strike capability when HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Portsmouth harbor. The first of the Royal Navy's two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers had left Rosyth, Scotland on June 27 to undertake seven weeks of sea trials. On the same day at a BAE Systems media facility at Warton, Lancashire, the company announced an important milestone in the F-35 development program as the F-35B achieved its first 'ski-jump' takeoff carrying atypical UK weapons load of four Paveway IVs and two ASRAAMs.