Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales joins forces with Italy’s ITS Cavour in major Mediterranean show of strength
By Charlotte Kensington
The Royal Navy and Italian Navy have joined forces in the Mediterranean for one of NATO’s largest joint maritime exercises to date, Med Strike, bringing together a formidable fleet of aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, and cutting-edge aircraft in a demonstration of allied firepower and operational unity.
At the heart of the exercise are two aircraft carrier strike groups: the UK-led HMS Prince of Wales and Italy’s ITS Cavour, supported by a combined force of 21 warships, three submarines, 41 fast jets, 19 helicopters, 10 patrol aircraft, and approximately 8,000 personnel. Operations are being conducted in the Ionian Sea, between Taranto and Sicily.
Med Strike is a key milestone of the Royal Navy’s Operation Highmast, the UK’s flagship global deployment for 2025, which will ultimately see the British Carrier Strike Group transit through the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to international security and alliance interoperability.
Joint Air Power on Display
The exercise has featured F-35B Lightning jets from both nations conducting day and night flight operations, with a focus on synchronised carrier aviation tactics.
“I am thrilled to work alongside my Italian colleagues and see how they control, launch and recover F-35s from the tower,” said Lieutenant Commander Joe Mason, Second in Command of 617 Squadron.
“We are stronger together, and combined training makes us more effective and more lethal for the future.”
Seamless Integration Across Domains
The exercise also included anti-submarine warfare drills, air defence training, and drone threat response scenarios. According to Commander Nick Smith, Commanding Officer of 809 Naval Air Squadron, the joint operations allow both navies to refine and integrate their combat capabilities:
“Med Strike affords the opportunities to prove force integration both within the air and maritime domains, learn from one another’s approaches to carrier aviation, and demonstrate Carrier Strike capability within NATO.”
Beyond the Flight Deck
In support of the exercise, the UK’s Type 45 destroyer successfully conducted a replenishment at sea with the Norwegian Navy tanker HNoMS Maud, transferring 300,000 litres of diesel. Meanwhile, HMS Richmond carried out gunnery exercises, and Commando Merlin helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron transported British Ambassador to Italy, Edward Llewellyn, aboard HMS Prince of Wales.
Strategic Significance
Captain Colin McGannity, Commander Air Group, emphasised the value of multinational collaboration:
“Working together with allies is critical to what we do. We are stronger together, so we work hard to make our combined operations seamless.”
As Operation Highmast continues, the Royal Navy’s deployment is set to underscore British naval strength across key regions, enhancing deterrence, building allied trust, and showcasing the UK’s role as a global security partner.
