Page 71 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

flying missions and debriefing upon completion. Marine Corps F-35Bs is due to take place in Marham. Blackmore added: “The key goal is to
The WESTLANT 19 CSG includes the carrier 2021. AM Gerry Mayhew, Deputy Commander prove the F-35B can be operationally employed
itself plus destroyer HMS Dragon, frigate HMS Operations, said: “It’s no longer a thing on a effectively from the maritime environment
Northumberland, tanker RFA Tideforce, Merlins page or a concept. This is two services coming whilst embarked in HMS Queen Elizabeth.”
from 814, 820 and 845 Naval Air Squadrons together to work hand-in-glove to deliver the While the UK’s F-35B declared IOC from
(NAS), Wildcats from 815 NAS plus Royal defence output, and it’s brilliant to see.” land at the turn of the year, this deployment
Marines from Lima Company, 42 Commando. will ensure that the declared capability can be
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “This WESTLANT 19 objectives achieved from the carrier and in the context
is another step towards the UK’s carrier Lasting just over three months, the WESTLANT of a task group. Blackmore said that the two
strike capability becoming fully operational. 19 cruise sees the CSG ranging as far south DT phases revealed some deficiencies to be
The bringing together of the UK Lightnings as Florida and north to Massachusetts. Cdr addressed, including refinements needed
on the first-in-class HMS Queen Elizabeth James Blackmore, the carrier’s Commander for the visual landing aids and F-35B pilot
paves the way for the world’s most up-to- Air ‘Wings’, said: “The deployment covers helmet. “Lessons were identified in areas
date, fully integrated carrier force.” more than just F-35B flight trials [over five during DT-1 and DT-2 that require rectification
Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group, AVM weeks]; it is also focusing on warm weather prior to enhanced developmental test, which
Harv Smyth, added: “WESTLANT 19 marks an characterisation of HMS Queen Elizabeth, has always been planned into DT-4 with
extremely significant milestone on our ten-year expanded rotary-wing trials with Merlin aircraft, HMS Prince of Wales in 2021. As such, there
journey to establishing our renewed carrier defence engagement and interoperability with was not a requirement to undertake further
strike capability. Bringing our own Lightnings US forces, both ships and aircraft, including developmental test this year because more
on board HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first further flight trials with US Marine Corps jets.” than sufficient test points – more than 70%
time gives us the opportunity to conduct Cdr Blackmore stressed the importance of of all DT for the F-35B in the Queen Elizabeth
critical operational testing, with the Royal Navy “pulling on operational expertise from the Royal class – have been achieved to date. This is a
and Royal Air Force operating closely together.” Navy and the Royal Air Force” for OT-1. This very positive point as it has allowed the UK
The UK will declare IOC for carrier strike means the F-35B aircrew cadre this time around to focus more on operationally representative
by the end of 2020 and the first operational is predominantly led by operational test pilots testing this year using an operating envelope for
deployment for HMS Queen Elizabeth with from No 17 TES, augmented by RAF and Royal the F-35B which far expands that of anything
No 617 Squadron and a squadron of US Navy pilots with frontline experience from RAF we’ve had at sea with previous aircraft.” AFM

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