The NATO flagship is sailing to conduct training exercises with the US Navy as well as the Royal Canadian Navy, United States Marine Corps. The program is expected to include exercises with the F-35B Lightning aircraft. A Royal Navy spokesman declined to comment on the reason for the delayed departure, but said: “The departure of HMS Prince of Wales has been delayed. This will not affect her future schedule.” The spokesman added: “HMS Prince of Wales will cross the Atlantic with her task force, ready to push the limits of unmanned technology and the tactics used by the UK’s two new Queen Elizabeth class carriers. “Along with notable port stops in New York, Halifax in Canada and the Caribbean, over the next three months the Prince of Wales task force will work closely with US allies, operating F-35B aircraft and unmanned systems that will define the Royal Naval Aviation of the future. “With flagship of the fleet HMS Queen Elizabeth also deploying to the Mediterranean and Baltic this autumn at the heart of a powerful Royal Navy task force, it will mean both UK aircraft carriers will be operating F-35B aircraft thousands of miles apart between them”. Commanding Officer Captain Richard Hewitt said: “Transporting the HMS Prince of Wales task force across the Atlantic for the remainder of this year will not only push the limits of the UK’s carrier operations, but strengthen our close partnership with our closest ally. “From operating the F35 Lightnings and drones to hosting the Atlantic Future Forum, none of this would be possible without the efforts of the amazing sailors on board, many of whom are on their first deployment with the Royal Navy” .
