Britain's Highmast mission completes: carriers travel 40,000 nautical miles and conduct first-ever exercises with India
The Royal Navy’s eight-month Highmast deployment in the Indo-Pacific region has concluded.
The aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, along with the destroyer HMS Dauntless and the Norwegian frigate Roald Amundsen, have arrived back in Portsmouth, whereas the frigate HMS Richmond has returned to Plymouth, according to the Royal Navy.
The undertaking included over 2,500 service members (reaching 4,500 at its height), F-35B jets, and Merlin and Wildcat rotorcraft.
Over the course of the deployment, British warships sailed 40,000 nautical miles, engaged with the naval forces of 30 nations, executed inaugural carrier drills with India, and made port visits to Australia for the first time in nearly three decades.
The aircraft executed 2,500 take-offs and landings from British and partner nation aircraft carriers.
Throughout the deployment, Britain experienced activity from Russian vessels near its coastline: in November, the Royal Navy intercepted the Stoikiy and Yelnya in the English Channel; prior to that, the surveillance ship Yantar was observed off the coast of Scotland. NATO communicated its preparedness to oppose any emerging dangers.
