Steadfast Defender 24:HMS Prince of Wales and Carrier Strike Group Deployed to Frigid North Atlantic

Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) has assumed command of the UK Carrier Strike Group headed by HMS Prince of Wales (R09) as it participates in NATO Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024,the largest warfighting drills since the Cold War.Said STRIKFORNATO:This transfer of authority to STRIKFORNATO demonstrates the Alliance's ability to integrate the high-end capabilities of a British Carrier,its strike group escorts,and embarked air wing during a series of meticulously planned maritime security activities perfectly allied with the Deterrence and Defence family of Allied collective plans.For the first time ever,the 65,000 tonne ship hosts the UK Carrier Strike Group battle staff as she takes center stage in Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024.The aircraft carrier,crewed by up to 1600 personnel,is leading a multinational group of warships towards Northern Europe.International by design,the group is comprised by its flagship and namesake,the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales;HMS Somerset;Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Tidesurge;RFA Tidespring;USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117),an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Flight IIa,bristling with guns,missiles,cruise missiles and torpedoes);HMCS Charlottetown;HDMS Niels Juel;HDMS Hvidbjornen;and ESPE Cristobal Colon.Through harsh weather and freezing conditions,HMS POW has officially commenced her paricipation in Steadfast Defender 2024.For this,she has embarked more jets than ever before (the embarked F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters are out of RAF Marham,England,being members of 617 Squadron "Dambusters"),presenting an unparalleled display of air and firepower capability.This deployment optimises the capacity STRIKFORNATO holds to seemlessly integrate the most powerful maritime forces on the planet into NATO operations.*STRIKFORNATO's command of the UK Carrier Strike Group during an exercise spanning air,land,and maritime activity from the United States to the Eastern European Flank speaks to the organisation's steadfast committment to regional security and readiness to defend tonight if needed.Routinely transferring authority of deployed Carrier Strike Groups to NATO enhances interoperability and improves defensive Allied capbilities.This practise nurtures the vital skills of each crew and ship-based commander,facilitating smooth operations within the NATO structure.Every serial strengthens the transatlantic bond and the collective power of nations working in lock step with one another in mutual supprt.*STRIKFORNATO,headquartered in Oeirus,Portugal,is Supreme Allied Commander Europe's premier,rapidly deployable and flexible maritime power projection Headquarters,capable of planning and executing full spectrum joint Allied operations.*According to Royal Navy Captain Colin McGannity,Carrier Air Wing and Strike Warfare Commander:It is always an exciting moment when F-35B Lightning join the Carrier Strike Group at sea.These fifth-generation aircraft are the main strike element within the group.Once again,we will be integrating them and the rest of the Carrier Air Wing (helicopters) with our NATO Allies and Partners.There's plenty of work ahead but I have every confidence that our talented and dedicated team will succeed.It's winter in the North Atlantic and we will face harsh weather and freezing conditions,but we are well prepared and look forward to demonstrating our readiness to fight,whenever and wherever we get the call.*The scenario of Steadfast Defender 2024 simulates a Russian attack on NATO.

Increasing Firepower:Advanced Technology USN Warship Deployed to Rota,Spain

On 17 June 2022,the newest Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) member,USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117),arrived at its new homeport of Rota,Spain.It had recently been operating with NATO Allies Canada,France,Germany and Norway in Exercises Cable Car and Green Light.In the Baltic Sea,the high tech vessel had also integrated with the 2nd Marine Division and Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group with the embarked Amphibious Squadron Six and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).What is more,the guided-missile destroyer interoperated with the new Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) during the inaugural deployment of the Sioux City.Paul Ignatius commanding officer Commander Aaron Arky said that:I couldn't be more proud of the team as they superbly conducted undersea,air-defence and expeditionary operations during this patrol.* The Paul Ignatius was commissioned in 2019 as the second of eight Flight IIA:Technology Insertion ships,bringing enhanced capability and technology advancements to U.S. Navy Europe and Destroyer Squadron 60 (DESRON 60),according to NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY ROTA.The heavily armed Arleigh Burke-class warship is able to conduct missions ranging from sea control and power projection to disaster reflief.Alongside the Paul Ignatius,Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 79 arrived in Rota as well,providing rotary-wing aircraft mission capabilities to the four FDNF-E destroyers deployed there.* Flight IIA:Technology Insertion destroyers are equipped with Aegis Baseline 9,which provides improved Integrated Air and Missile Defence capabilities.Their increased computing power and radar capabilities can quickly detect and react to modern air warfare and Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) threats.The multi-mission ships provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in the multi-threat air,surface and submarine warfare domains.Each of the destroyers is armed with 96 Standard,Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rockets (ASROC) and Tomahawk Air-to-Surface/Loitering Attack Missiles;a 5-inch Mark-45 gun;2 Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS);and two Mark-32 triple 324 mm torpedo tubes for Mark-46 or Mark-50 ASW torpedoes.