British Royal Navy's 25th Aircraft Carrier Strike Group (CSG25) provided updates on its progress in declaring Full Operational Capability (FOC) and the main assessment criteria for announcing this milestone.
A F-35B fighter jet on the flight deck of the HMS Prince of Wales at Changi Naval Base
On September 22, when the carrier was berthed at Changi Naval Base in Singapore, Commodore James Blackmore provided these details during a media briefing on the flight deck of the HMS Prince of Wales.
The HMS Prince of Wales is berthed at Changi as part of its second stop in Singapore, which is part of its eight-month India-Pacific power projection mission called "Operation High Masts."
Singapore is the only country that the HMS Prince of Wales will visit twice during the mission, after its previous visit to the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in June 2025.
During the media briefing on September 22, Commodore Blackmore said one of the main requirements that must be met before declaring FOC is the ability to maintain a consistent sortie rate.
From July 13 to August 4, 2025, the "Exercise Talisman Sabre" was held at multiple locations in Australia, demonstrating this.
Commodore Blackmore said that during the exercise, the HMS Prince of Wales, in addition to conducting helicopter operations, achieved at least 16 sorties per day, with 8 sorties each time.
Another key criterion is interoperability with regional partners and allies.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7554191654173934119/
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